Our conference will present a number of research strategies for investigating ways to keep Canadian literature rooted in a context that includes the consideration of place and location. In “What Happened to Regionalism?”, Alison Calder expresses her concern regarding the increasingly popular idea that Canadian literature is “post-place”, a result of living in a “globalized cyber-world where place is irrelevant” (Calder 113). Calder argues for the necessity of literature that represents and/or connects to specific places in order for us to develop ideas about the issues surrounding us. Setting matters. Just like plot and character are important literary elements, so is setting, and when it comes to literary analysis, we must think about the place. In making this argument, Calder argues against certain aspects of neoliberalism, particularly the belief that “the world is the same for everybody” (114). Places are unique, and every individual’s relationship to a place is unique. Our group will explore strategies to take action in order to keep Canadian literature grounded in place; we must move forward in building an understanding of Canadian literature and identity that still appreciates the role of geographic setting and the people in it.

Recognizing the limited amount of literature that can grasp the vastness of the Canadian landscape, we have turned to music to introduce our topic of regionalism. Enjoy!

Works Cited

Calder, Alison. “What Happened to Regionalism?” Canadian Literature 204.1 (2010): 113-114. Online. 16 Mar. 019.

English at Waterloo. Canadian Literature. 2019. Web. 22 Mar. 2019.

Roumieu, Graham. “Most Canadians Live in Cities. Why is our Literature so Relentlessly Rural?” This. 18 Sept. 2009. Image. 22 Mar. 2019.