Scarcity in American Culture

Conceptions of abundance are a quintessential theme in the United States cultural narrative, inextricably linked to the idea of the ‘good life.’ Unforeseen shifts toward conditions of scarcity invariably disrupt this sense of cultural wellbeing. Simultaneously, scarcity has an intrinsic value, where rarity and exclusivity accord unique dimensions of value and status.

We seek submissions for a forthcoming special issue of the European Journal of American Culture focusing on the ways in which manifestations of American scarcity have been interpreted or conceptualized in optimistic or pessimistic terms. We are particularly interested in interdisciplinary papers that focus on how scarcity relates to the transformation of social and cultural spaces. Papers are welcome to draw from a diverse range of interrelated topics including but not limited to, material and visual culture, sensory studies, architecture, media, politics and protest, identity and diversity, ideology and tradition.

The European Journal of American Culture (EJAC) is an academic, refereed journal for scholars, academics and students from many disciplines with a common involvement in the interdisciplinary study of America and American culture, drawing on a variety of approaches and encompassing the whole evolution of the country. Please consult the website for more information: http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/journals/view-journal,id=138/
Articles should be 6,000 to 8,000 words, inclusive of endnotes. EJAC uses Harvard style. The journal welcomes copyright-cleared images. Please submit an abstract of approximately 300 words by May 31th 2016 to the email below. Manuscripts will be due by October 1st 2016.

europeanjournalamericanculture@kent.ac.uk

Guest Editors for the Scarcity Issue

Stuart Barker, University of Kent
s.j.barker@kent.ac.uk

Nicholas Blower, University of Kent
n.e.blower@kent.ac.uk