Opinion: Four Weddings and Three Hundred Funerals

by Liam Heffernan

On Thursday 28th April 2011 Alabama and the southern states were hit by a storm killing almost 300 Americans. It was 'the worst tornado outbreak since 1974' leaving thousands of people homeless and over a million without power. The following morning, I was sitting in a hostel in downtown Boston trying to see the news through the heads of old ladies huddled around the television (it was an odd place).

AMS Film Screenings: Real to Reel

As an offshoot of our first year History modules this semester, we're running Real to Reel, a series of film screenings which serve as another way of introducing some of the issues at stake in the study of American history. These screenings will be of interest to students of American Studies more generally, and everyone is welcome. Below, the schedule.

News: Kevin Smith's Red State

by Natasha Broad

Whilst filmmaker Kevin Smith is well known for making comedies, his latest offering concerns a far more serious topic. Released at the Sundance Film Festival amongst controversy, Red State is a hard-hitting film about religious extremism in the USA but, unexpectedly, also offers a thought provoking image of the American government post 9/11.

News: Urban Prep, and the Ongoing Battle between Education and Poverty in Chicago

(via)

by Andi Bawden

Hidden amongst a mass of BBC news stories focusing on the United States, an article by Mark Mardell with a brief video illustrates the success of a school in Chicago.  Although attracting relatively little attention in the UK until now, Urban Prep made American national news at the beginning of this summer after 100% of its graduating seniors were awarded places in American colleges.

Research Seminar: Richard Martin

This Wednesday, it's the first AMS research seminar of the semester, and it's something a little out of the ordinary. Richard Martin (Birkbeck) is currently undertaking a research project sponsored by the British Association for American Studies. From the BAAS website:

American Studies in the UK, 2000-2010The British Association for American Studies, in association with the Fulbright Commission, is embarking on an important new research project tracing the development of American Studies in the UK between 2000 and 2010. The project will produce a contemporary census document and a historical resource for future scholars.

Alongside statistical data, the report will also include commentary and case studies, involving a wide range of voices and experiences. Contributions are therefore invited from all sections of the American Studies community in the UK, including researchers, lecturers, administrators, teachers and students. Contributors are asked to respond to the central question: In what ways did American Studies in the UK change between 2000 and 2010?

Accordingly, on Wednesday, Richard will be talking about "American Studies in the U.K., 2000-2011." Should be a good one. All welcome.

Wednesday October 12, 3 pm, Arts 2.84.

Extreme Right-Wing Pundits Love Steve Almond’s Latest Much To The Confusion Of, Uh, Everyone

By Neekta Khorsand

Steve Almond, beloved DIY-publishing, bad-poetry-writing, experimental “candy freak,” is releasing a new book entitled God Bless America at the end of October of “comic and forlorn” short stories about the United States and its many delights. Much to Almond’s bewilderment--and that of many others--his book has been touted by members of the right wing extreme & Fox News pundits—most notably, teddy bear lookalike Glenn Beck. Almond explains the whole situation in the trailer video for his book.

News: New Editorial Committee for Containing Multitudes

(via)

This year, in addition to its regular and semi-regular features, Containing Multitudes is going to feature a series of posts from the members of our new editorial committee, made up of a number of our supremely talented postgraduates. You'll get to know a bit about each of them as the year rolls on. So stay tuned for some exciting developments. And remember, you can follow us on twitter @AmericanStudies, and on Facebook here.

CFP: aspeers

Long time-friends of Containing Multitudes aspeers have got in touch with their new CFP. For those who aren't familiar, aspeers is:

the first and currently only peer-reviewed print journal for MA-level American studies scholars in Europe. It is a platform for the best work done by American studies graduate students below the PhD level. It aims to foster academic exchange among young Americanists across Europe, and to thereby advance the field as well as its genuine European perspective on ‘America’ and its presences and effects around the world. In addition to a general section, aspeers features a topical one that brings academic and creative works into a dialogue on one common theme.

So pay attention, postgrads. More from the CFP below.

What They Did Next: Kirsty Callaghan

Kirsty Callaghan graduated from the School of American Studies this year, and is currently teaching and studying at the University of Wyoming. Happily, she's agreed to write us a guest post about her experiences so far. Make sure to check out her own blog here.

News: Lecture Series on American Life and Culture at the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library

Above, a flyer for the forthcoming Autumn 2011 Lecture Series on American Life and Culture hosted by the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library at the Forum, Norwich - including AMS's very own Rebecca Fraser. Below, further details about the lectures. Enjoy!