Keri Cronin

Category Archives: Conferences


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Living With Animals Conference

Last month I travelled down to Richmond, Kentucky to participate in the “Living With Animals” conference at EKU. It was a fabulous conference and I was really glad to have been part of it. The only disappointing part was the weather–I had been hoping for a little warm weather and sunshine, but during the conference the weather in Kentucky was pretty much identical to the weather in Southern Ontario: chilly, windy, overcast. I even saw snowflakes in the air one day! The poor spring flowers and blooms seemed a bit shocked!

Weather aside, it was a fabulous trip and a fabulous conference. Huge congrats to the organizers, Robert Mitchell and Julia Schlosser, on the event!

There were so many great papers and keynote addresses that it would be impossible for me to write about them all here, but some that I found to be especially thought-provoking include:

  • Margo DeMello‘s keynote address on using videos and images in animal studies classes
  • Mary Shannon Johnstone‘s presentation on her photographic work, including her incredible project entitled “Landfill Dogs“
  • Christina Colvin’s presentation on the practice of pet taxidermy
  • Monica Mattfeld’s presentation on the memorialization of “The Spanish Horse” in 18th century London
  • Brett Mizelle‘s presentation on the culture of butchers and slaughterhouses in the late-19th and early-20th centuries
  • L.A. Watson‘s discussion of the fabulous National Museum of Animals & Society as well as her own artwork which will be featured in an upcoming NMAS exhibition

I presented in the “Teaching With Animals” stream of the conference, and gave a presentation on my class, VISA 3P98: Picturing Animals.” I talked about some of the different themes we cover in this class, as well as the challenges and rewards of teaching “animal studies” in an art department. I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to talk with others who are teaching similar topics in their respective departments, centres, and schools. To that end, I was especially appreciative of the “break out” sessions that were scheduled around different issues to do with teaching. I will admit that the phrase “break out session” usually has me heading for the hills, but in this case it was a very interesting and valuable exchange of ideas and course outlines. I also found the panel discussion on “Teaching With Animals” (moderated by Brett Mizelle and featuring Margo DeMello, Robert Mitchell, Kenneth Shapiro, and Kari Weil) to be very enlightening, particularly around the issue of setting up programs in animal studies at the college and university level.

I have had enough of airports in recent months, so this was a road trip! What an interesting way to see the country. We broke the trip up in to two days, and the first night we stopped in Columbus, OH. We specifically planned our route so that we could check out Hal & Al’s, a fabulously quirky bar that has both an incredible selection of craft brews AND an all-vegan menu. Our plans for stopping there on the way back through were scuttled as we adjusted our travel to avoid Winter Storm Virgil. (since when do we name winter storms?) We did, however, stop in Detroit for a vegan brunch at PJ’s Lager House. It was another funky little bar with fabulous vegan food! We need more of these kinds of places in Canada! Once of the best parts about PJ’s was the resident dog, a beautiful pit-cross named Sugar. She was so friendly and gentle, just walking around saying hello to everyone having brunch. It makes me so angry that a beautiful dog like this would be “illegal” in Ontario.

 

sugar (detroit)


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Trains vs. Planes

I’m in Boston for the NEASA conference. The theme of the conference is “The Arts and the Public.” Should be good.

I opted not to fly to Boston this time. With each recent flight I have found myself growing more and more fed up with airline travel. I realized that even “short flights” become agonizingly long by the time one factors in security, customs, weather-related delays, over-crowded runways, etc.

For this trip I decide to take Amtrak down from Niagara Falls. It was a lovely trip, but the goddesses of travel wanted to make sure that I understood loud & clear that things like weather-related delays are not just limited to air travel. Ho hum. I was hours late getting into Boston because high winds knocked out power on the rail lines between New York and Boston.

Ok. Message received loud & clear. Travel can be a royal pain in the butt no matter what form of transportation one takes. I get it.

Having said that, I still think I’d opt for a train over a plane in the future if circumstances permit. It is just a more pleasant way to travel. On both the Niagara Falls – NYC and the NYC – Boston journeys the cars I rode in were nearly silent. It was quiet and peaceful, and I found the gentle sway of the cars relaxing. (so much so that I had a few naps along the way. I can’t recall the last time I was able to sleep on a plane!) The autumn scenery whipping along outside my window was beautiful to look at, and the dining car (yes, there was an actual dining car!) had vegan burgers and Sam Adams. I wouldn’t say it was the world’s best burger, but it sure the heck beats any airline food I’ve had recently (oh wait, that is because they generally never have anything I can eat!). Even the several hour delay in NYC wasn’t so bad — I mean, really, there are worse places to have to kill a few hours! I was thinking about how easy it was to just walk out of Penn Station and go for a stroll. Compare this to when you are stuck at an airport — airports are generally in the middle of nowhere and even if you decided to take a cab from the airport to another part of the city, there is the whole matter of having to go back through security, customs, etc. upon your return.

Plus, it is just a whole lot more fun to take pictures along the rail lines, and, really, doesn’t it always boil down to visual culture in the end anyhow?


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Make Good Vegan Food

A few weeks ago I travelled to one of my favourite cities to chair a session of the Animals and Animality conference. I wasn’t able to take in the whole conference, but what I saw was very good — the organizers should be most pleased with how it turned out!

The highlight of the conference for me was the keynote address by Carol J. Adams. I’ve been a fan of her work for ages, but haven’t had the opportunity to hear her give a talk before. It was well worth the wait. Adams is a wonderful, passionate speaker and so much of what she had to say resonated with me. I’ve been talking about her talk with friends and family ever since I got back.

Her talk had much to do with how we represent/treat/exploit nonhuman animals and drew on a lot of the key material from her books (The Sexual Politics of Meat and The Pornography of Meat). Fascinating stuff! If you aren’t familiar with these books, please log off your computer and run to your nearest library to check them out. Seriously.

What I found to be the most powerful moment of her talk, however, took place during the question period. One of the student participants at the conference asked a question that many of us who care about animals and animal issues find ourselves asking from time to time — “How can we make a difference and how can we keep positive in the face of all the backlash against animal activism?” (I didn’t write down the exact question, but I’m paraphrasing here). In her thoughtful response, Adams said “make good vegan food and share it with friends and family.” She went on to describe how another animal activist had said something along the lines of “if you aren’t in jail you aren’t doing enough for the animals.” To this she said “I’m more effective on this side of the bars!” Her point, of course, was that activism takes many forms but that one of the most effective and compassionate ways to make a difference is to share the joy of cruelty-free (i.e.: vegan) food with those who you most care about. Share the food. Don’t necessarily preach about it, just provide a good meal that you can gather around and enjoy.

Now, I love that there are all kinds of activism but this message just resonated with me on a deep emotional level. Food, of course, is so much more that sustenance. It is about sharing, bonding, family/friends, rituals, comfort, nutrition, health, etc. We have so much invested in what and how we eat that changes to established patterns can be threatening. The simple idea of cooking and sharing vegan food with those who mean the most to us is such a wonderful activist gesture because it can co-exist with some of these important social and cultural associations we have with food.

So, on that note I’d like to share two recipes I recently tried. I shared the end result with some of my loved ones. Maybe you’ll consider doing the same?

Moroccan Quinoa and Carrot Salad
I went to a cooking class taught by Marlie Centawer of barefoot and frolicking. I know Marlie from other contexts, but it was a real treat to have her share her passion for vegan (and raw vegan) cooking with us. The following is one of the recipes she made for us. I hope she doesn’t mind if I share it here:

-1 cup red or white quinoa
-1/4-1/2 cup shelled pistachio nuts
-4-5 large carrots, peeled
-1/4-1/2 cup dried or fresh cherries (dried cranberries also work)
-3 tablespoons lemon juice
-2 garlic cloves, mashed to a paste
-1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
-1/2 teaspoon paprika
-1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
-1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
-1 avocado, to garnish
-mixed greens

Rinse one cup of quinoa in a colander to remove saponin (bitter resin-like coating). Bring 3 cups of water to a boil, add quinoa and cook for 20-30 minutes until quinoa has expanded and has become fluffy in taste and texture). Set aside to cool.

Process carrots in food processor with either an ‘s’ blade or a grater blade. Set contents aside in large bowl.

In medium bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, cumin, paprika, cinnamon and cayenne. Season with salt and pepper. Slowly add olive oil.

Add quinoa, pistachios, cherries and cilantro to carrots. Mix well and add dressing. Serve on a bed of greens with slices of avocado for garnish.

I also made this Chocolate-Blueberry cake today. One word: amazing. Seriously. You have to try this!!


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“Intellectual Olympics”

Exciting news for Brock!

From the Brock website:

Brock wins bid to host Canada’s premier academic gathering in 2014

Published on November 20 2009

Brock University has been awarded the opportunity to host the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in 2014, following a competitive bid and thorough review process. As many as 8,000 delegates are expected to attend the conference.

“Winning a bid to host Congress 2014 is like winning a bid to host the intellectual Olympics,” stated Noreen Golfman, president of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences. “Congress will help put both Brock and the surrounding region on the map as an international destination for knowledge and research.”

Board members from the Federation made their decision based on a number of factors, including state-of-the-art facilities, an energetic staff and significant community support.

Besides showcasing Brock and its research capacity, the event has the potential to generate economic spin-offs of upwards of $10 million to the local host region — requiring some 17,000- to 20,000-room nights in local hotels and University residences.

“This is a great occasion to promote our Niagara region and regional partners,” says Liette Vasseur, vice-president of Research at Brock. “Furthermore, it will enhance our profile as a research-intensive university in a region with a great quality of life in a beautiful setting. Brock is very happy to have been selected as the host for 2014.”

Congress representatives noted that they were impressed with the well-orchestrated site visit, citing the enthusiasm and support of community partners as a key contributor in their evaluation of Brock’s bid.

About the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Organized annually by the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Congress brings together thousands of scholars, students, practitioners and policy makers in a different city each year to share ideas, debate and enrich their research. As such, it is the largest multidisciplinary academic gathering in Canada, attracting delegates from every province and territory and from around the world.

Delegates gather under the aegis of more than 70 associations representing a rich spectrum of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. From theatre, literature and education to history, sociology and political sciences, Congress represents a unique showcase of scholarly excellence, creativity and leadership.

Brock hosted Congress in 1996. Hosting the Congress in 2014 will coincide with celebrations for the University’s 50th anniversary, as well as the culmination of events commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

Congress 2009 was hosted by Carleton University in Ottawa. Congress 2010 will be hosted by Concordia University in Montreal from May 28 to June 4, 2010.

For more information from Brock University, contact Jeffrey Sinibaldi, media relations officer, at 906-688-5550 x4687; jsinibaldi@brocku.ca

For more information on Congress or the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences visit http://www.fedcan.ca or contact Ryan Saxby Hill, media relations officer at 613-236-6112 x303; rsaxbyhill@fedcan.ca


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Summer Camp for Academics

I just returned from the ASLE conference in Victoria, B.C. This is my third ASLE, and it marked the first time this wonderful conference was held in Canada. The ASLE conferences are like no other conferences I’ve ever attended. I always leave these conferences feeling not only inspired, but refreshed. If there were such a thing as summer camp for academics this would be it. We talk about our research and teaching, attend workshops, hear inspiring plenary speakers and participate in panels. We also go hiking, bird watching, kayaking, etc. On any given evening during the conference you can stroll around campus and hear the sounds of ASLEers playing the guitar and singing. There are a significant number of conference-goers who appreciate the finer points of a good pint of beer. This is the kind of conference where you can strike up a conversation with a total stranger and end up making a new friend in a matter of minutes. The dress code is totally casual and there are always vegetarian/vegan options at the banquet. This conference is unpretentious, collegial, totally inspiring and I love it! Far too often I’ve witnessed conferences turn into pretentious pissing matches and I’ve just walked away in disgust. ASLE redeems my faith in academic culture.

I heard many good presentations during this ASLE conference, but I want to take a minute to mention one that stands out above all the rest — the plenary session that featured Greg Garrard and Cate Mortimer-Sandilands. From the outset, both speakers acknowledged that their work came out of very different theoretical and methodological traditions. I suppose they could have argued loudly with one another, stomping their feet and pointing out all the reasons why they felt that the other was wrong. But they didn’t. They opened the session by taking 10 minutes each to describe the significance and the importance of the other person’s work. These were generous and genuine tributes to the work of two scholars who have done so much for the field of ecocriticism. This was incredibly inspiring and I think it serves as a good reminder that differences in scholarly approaches need not result in academic incivility.

For more on the ASLE conference, see these very interesting blogs.


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I Miss the Bunnies!

I’m back home in Ontario but my mind is still in Victoria — such a wonderful conference, such a wonderful location. I want to blog about the conference in more detail, but first I need to unpack, do laundry and get some sleep.

After spending several days on the UVic campus I became quite used to seeing all the bunnies. Now that I’m back home it seems strange not to see bunnies hopping all over the place when I look out the window. (For those of you who have never been to the UVic campus, there are dozens and dozens of bunnies running all over the place!) I realize that they do present a number of problems, but as Andrew Revkin (who was a plenary speaker at the ASLE conference) asks, “what can be done about a pest that’s cute?”

I’ve blogged a bit about the graffiti I encountered while at the ASLE conference, so it seems fitting that just as I was leaving the UVic campus I spotted this piece of bunny-themed artwork. Excellent!

IMG_0340


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Back from the ACLA

Last week I took my first-ever trip to the state of Massachusetts — I traveled with some colleagues to the ACLA Conference at Harvard. The format for the conference was pretty cool, and unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The presentations are grouped into seminars, and the seminars meet each day throughout the conference. So it really is like a bunch of small conferences going on at once, which allows for really in-depth and focused conversations on the topic. I was part of a panel that my colleague Linda organized. Our panel was called “Dead Things” and all the papers looked at cultural representations of death.

We also had time to be tourists in Boston. What a fabulous city!! Everyone we met — from the MBTA transit workers to the people working in the stores and restaurants — was incredibly friendly and welcoming. We enjoyed delicious food and the beer was exquisite!! (I don’t think I’ve ever tried so many delicious varieties of stout) Before we left I had made a list of the places I wanted to visit. Of course, we ran out of time, but some of the highlights we did manage to hit included: The Museum of Fine Arts, The Gardner, the beautiful Central Library, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History. We had pretty good weather while we were there (only one day of pouring rain), so we enjoyed walking around places like Boston Common and the Public Gardens as well.


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Fun at the OLA

Last week I attended the Ontario Library Association’s Super Conference in Toronto. It was very different than the conferences I normally go to, but I enjoyed it very much. Even though I have a secret dream of being a librarian I was at the conference to talk about some current work I’m doing — I co-presented with our Department’s liaison librarian, and we talked about the challenges of teaching research skills in large lecture-style classes. It was an interesting opportunity to really think about the approaches we’ve been taking in the classroom and to think about what we’d like to do to build on these things for next year.

There were some very interesting keynote addresses at this conference, and I was glad I had the opportunity to hear Justin Trudeau, Michael Enright and Richard Florida speak during this event.

A few days in Toronto also gave me the opportunity to engage in some non-conference activities. I finally made it over to the new-and-improved AGO and also found a few hours to visit the ROM. We also went to see a performance of “East of Berlin” at the Tarragon Theatre — an absolutely amazing experience!


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Happy New Year!

Ok, so I’m a little behind schedule, but the sentiment is still there — happy 2009 and happy new academic term to all!

I celebrated the wrap of one year and the start of the next by finishing up two large projects (one which I have been working on by myself and one in which I have had a co-conspirator) that have been hanging over my head for ages. Well, I saw them through to the stage at which they are no longer in my hands and are being read/reviewed by others which, for the time being, is almost like being finished. For this moment they are out of sight and out of mind and I feel like I can turn my mind to new projects.

The projects which I shipped off have been many years in the making and I am finding a mix of both excitement and upheaval in having the mental space (to say nothing of the space on my desk!) to start working on new things. The problem that I am struggling with right now is one I’m sure many folks can relate to — I’ve got so many interests and so many topics I want to read, research and write about. How do I narrow it down to a manageable list? I’ve decided to focus on my upcoming conference papers with the view of turning them into publishable articles and then going from there. There’s also a topic/idea that just keeps rolling around and around in my brain, and it feels a little bit like having the lyrics to a song stuck in my head. I fear if I don’t jot down some ideas and spend some time working on this (even though it is not one of the upcoming conference presentations I’ll be giving) I might just go a little batty!

And speaking of conferences, I’m looking forward to what 2009 brings on this front. In addition to planning and preparing for the next instalment of Greenscapes in the fall, I’ll be presenting at 3 conferences in the coming months. First of all I’m indulging the “wannabe librarian” in me and heading off to the Ontario Library Association’s 2009 Super conference in Toronto where I will be co-presenting a paper (with a “real librarian”) on helping first year students develop research skills. Apparently the format of this conference is quite different than what I’m used to at Humanities conferences, so it should be interesting. Then I’m off to Boston for the ACLA conference. At that event I’m part of a panel that my colleague, Linda, organized on the theme of “Dead Things.” I’m going to speak on the anti-vivisection movement in Victorian Britain at that event. Then in June it is off to Victoria for my favourite conference in the whole world, ASLE. This year at ASLE I’m participating in a roundtable discussion on blogging. Neat-mosquito. (Thanks to jo(e) for setting that panel up.) So, I’m an art historian attending 2 literature conferences and a library conference — hooray for interdisciplinarity!


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Greenscapes 2009 — Call for Papers


Greenscapes ~ Sense and Meaning:
Fields of Dreams (Landscapes of Myth and Imagination)
October 1-3, 2009, Brock University

Our landscapes have long been the unconscious repository of cultural hopes, fears and desires. From the Garden of Eden to Aboriginal Dreamtime, societies have perceived their surrounding natural environment to express cultural values reflected in their myths, legends, sacred texts and belief systems. The occupation, transition, or representation of landscape constitutes an imaginative exercise for both subject and object. Yet imagination is not a consciously controllable process, and dreams can be unsettling portents as well as expressions of wish-fulfillment. We welcome papers that explore landscapes of myth and imagination in real and virtual sites, literary texts, images, and installations and invite proposals on the following topics:

• Landscapes of allusion (texts, myths, folktales, legends)
• Sacred and Secular Utopias
• Profane imagination: ruin, decay and social transgression
• Gardens of the ‘first time’: origin myths and social legends
• Dream landscapes: fear, desire, and exploring the unconscious

Please send abstracts (up to 250 words) and a brief biography to greenscapes@brocku.ca by January 5, 2009.

The conference will take place at Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario. Giles Blunt, author of Forty Words for Sorrow, The Delicate Storm, and Black Fly Season, will deliver the opening keynote on the subject of landscape and fiction.

Conference organizers: Keri Cronin (Visual Arts, Brock University), David Galbraith (Royal Botanical Gardens), Sharilyn J. Ingram (School of Fine and Performing Arts, Brock University), Leah Knight (English Language and Literature, Brock University), Katharine T. von Stackelberg (Classics, Brock University).

We acknowledge with gratitude the support of the Humanities Research Institute at Brock University.

For more information, please visit www.brocku.ca/greenscapes

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