Current Comparative Literature Conference
The 61st Annual Comparative World Literature Conference
Activism, Art, and Artistry: The Making of a Better World
Wednesday - Thursday, April 14-15, 2027 (tentative dates)
Sustainability
We want to encourage conference participants to bring personal water bottles to refill at one of the many water stations around the conference venue.
Theme
The 61st annual Comparative Literature Conference, to be held in Spring 2027, builds on the previous year’s theme of “Legacies” to consider the work of Dr. Harry Lawson “Peter” Carr (1925-1981), one of the founding members of the department (1959-1981). Dr. Carr was an artist, activist, poet, folklorist, and scholar of Indian literature. His visual and literary work abounds in the early issues of the Comparative World Literature and Classics journal Genre. Dr. Carr was also an early organizer of the departmental conference: it was under his aegis that renowned folklore scholar Joseph Campbell spoke on our campus three times. In addition to his work on campus, Peter Carr was a peace and anti-war activist in the 60s, and he co-founded the anti-nuclear grassroots collective, Alliance for Survival. At CSULB, the former Peace Studies Center was named in honor of him. After his death, our 1981 departmental conference honored his work with the theme of “Visions of Peace.” Allen Ginsburg and Gary Snyder were the keynote speakers. Dr. Carr’s outlook, research, and legacy are remarkable and long-lasting; his paintings continue to be shown in galleries to this day.
Expanding on and continuing Dr. Carr’s artistic, pedagogical, and activist legacies, we organize our upcoming annual gathering with the goal of imagining a better world in mind, while honoring histories and centering community. Amidst ongoing local and global catastrophes and crises, these conversations are vital and necessary.
Keynote
We are thrilled to welcome as our keynote speaker Andrew Tonkovich, a student of Dr. Carr who has been inspired by him to a lifetime of activism, art, and literature, and who curates the Carr archives.
Program
View the Program. TBA.
Attendee Information
Location
The Karl Anatol Center is located on the 1st floor of the Academic Services Building, in-between the Macintosh Humanities Building (MHB) and the University Library (LIB) on the south end of campus just off 7th Street.
- The Original Conference Room is located INSIDE the Academic Services Building (AS), room 119.
- The Patio Conference Center is located OUTSIDE the Academic Services Building (AS), room 121.
Accessibility
For students: To request disability-related accommodations, complete the Bob Murphy Access Center Event Request Form.
For faculty and staff: If you are needing a reasonable accommodation based on a disability or medical restriction to access this program, please contact Staff Human Resources (StaffHR-Accommodations@csulb.edu) for employees as soon as possible so we can assist you prior to the program.
Parking
We encourage sustainable forms of transportation. Help us reduce the carbon footprint of our event by choosing to bus, bike, walk, or carpool to campus. Learn more about sustainable transportation options at the CSULB Ride website.
Parking for campus events may be purchased via the ParkMobile app or the ParkMobile Events Module (up to 30 days prior to the event). Zone numbers are available on the app, the website or on signage posted in each lot.
Parking may also be purchased from a parking pay station located within each lot. Daily parking is valid in any parking lot or parking structure where Daily parking is sold.
Annual, academic year, and semester permits are already valid during campus events. No additional parking purchase is necessary for a campus event if you already have a valid student or employee permit.
For more information about where to park on campus please visit the Parking and Transportation website.
Lodging
Lodging information can be found on the CSULB Faculty Affairs website.
