About the Conference
The Battleground States Conference is dedicated to interdepartmental, multi-disciplinary approaches to the study of culture. Formerly aimed specifically at graduate students, the re-imagined Battleground States Conference now seeks contributions from graduate students, emerging scholars, junior faculty, independent scholars, activists, and artists.
In previous years, we have had the pleasure to host a number of amazing keynote speakers, including:
Ann Larabee (Michigan State University)
John B. Russo (Youngstown State University)
Sherry Linkon (Youngstown State University)
Ray B. Browne (Bowling Green State University)
Gary Hoppenstand (Michigan State University)
Annette Wannamaker (Eastern Michigan University)
Philip Auslander (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Siva Vaidhyanathan (University of Virginia)
The conference has expanded considerably in its four-year history, growing to include more than 100 presenters in 2008, and soliciting scholars from England, Canada, and Australia, as well as all across the United States. 2010 looks to be even bigger and better. Details will be announced at battlegroundstates.org.
The Culture Club: Cultural Studies Scholars' Association was founded in the spring of 2006, in the wake of the first annual Battleground States Conference, as a collaborative project for graduate students interested in cultural studies. After a hugely successful conference, one that far exceeded our own expectations, an organization autonomous of disciplinary ties was deemed necessary to continue the spirit of collaboration.