Rhodes University Colloquium on Don Maclennan: Call for Papers

November 3rd, 2009 by Ben - Editor

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DON MACLENNAN: A commemorative colloquium & volume of critical essays
Second call for papers
Due to a dearth of formal expressions of interest, the deadline for submissions to the Don Maclennan colloquium is extended to 31 December 2009. Please spread this notice as far and wide as you can to interested friends and colleagues.
Don Maclennan passed away on 9 February 2009. Craig Mackenzie pointed out last year something that has long been the case, but never addressed: the critical neglect of Don’s extensive poetic ouevre. His early theatrical output is, if anything, even more ignored today. Yet Don was arguably one of the finest poets writing in South Africa over the last forty years, with a voluminous but under-publicised output of some twenty volumes. Even his Selected Poems has not received the critical attention it deserves.
Perhaps even more influential, however, has been Don’s presence as teacher and mentor to growing poets and artists over the years. All who met him will testify to his bountiful generosity, his humility, his intellectual insight, his raunchy humour, and the incisiveness of his commentary and suggestions. He largely eschewed the conventional route of academic publication in favour of readings, and the pithy, intimate talk.
Nothing can replenish this loss. Yet the work remains with us, and if there is any appropriate time to pay tribute, it is now, while our memories of the man remain vivid.
An anniversary commemorative colloquium will take place on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th March 2010.
A selection of new critical papers and related materials will then be gathered into a book, edited by Dan Wylie and any willing helpers. NB: papers not intended to be presented at the colloquium are also welcome. The colloquium also welcomes personal tributes, in any medium, offers of readings etc, as well as academic work.
Schedule of deadlines
a. Expressions of interest, in attending the colloquium and/or contributing to the book, by 31 December 2009, including an abstract if a full critical paper is being offered;
b. Complete papers ready by the time of the colloquium, 5 March 2010
c. Publication hopefully within the ensuing year.
Contact
DAN WYLIE
Dept of English
Rhodes Unversity
Grahamstown
+27 46 603 8409
d.wylie@ru.ac.za