<html><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><META name="Author" content="Novell GroupWise WebAccess"></head><body style='font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; '><div>Just a reminder that the deadline for proposals for the Rita Joe
Anthology is January 1, 2015 and the deadline for completed essays is
February 1, 2016. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Thanks for the expressions of interest already
received and I look forward to hearing from many more of you over the
next few months!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>As always please continue to distribute far and wide - <br><br><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">ALL FOR PAPERS </span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">– </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">A critical anthology commemorating the 50<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of George Ryga’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">In
his 1998 keynote address to the Association of Canadian Theatre
Research, Robert Wallace identified the beginning of identifiable
Canadian theatre with the Vancouver Playhouse’s production of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></i>Since then, many scholars and historians of Canadian theatre have agreed that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe</i> marks the beginning of indigenous (though not aboriginal) Canadian Theatre. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Opening
on November 23,1967, this seminal work in the history of Canadian
theatre lived on long after the original production closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In 1969, the production toured to Ottawa (opening the main stage at the National Arts Centre); <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it
was subsequently filmed and televised on CBC; the play has had
productions at many of Canada’s regional theatres, as well as
productions across the globe (including an acclaimed 1973 production in
Washington DC) and in 1971 the Royal Winnipeg Ballet transformed Ryga’s
story into a ballet<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The effect that the original production of </span><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US"> </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">had
on many aspects of theatre and theatre production has been vast and
numerous artists would cite the play as a major influence upon their
career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Perhaps most
specifically, as noted theatre critic Jamie Portman has argued the
success of the play profoundly shaped Canadian playwrights and
playwrighting.<sup>1.</sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The play continues to be produced in theatres around the world and, as the first play that most<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>students in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Canadian Drama encounter it plays an iconic, if not, mythic role in Canadian theatre history. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'" lang="EN-US">Over
the past 25 years or so, critical assessment around the play, though
not necessarily the place in holds in the development of Canadian
theatre, has shifted dramatically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In his introduction to the 1976 reprint of the script, Peter Hay wrote, “[b]ut there was something particularly new about </span><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic" lang="EN-US">and this has to do with the way George Ryga regards the theatre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It
was the first time that a playwright had use the Vancouver Playhouse to
confront its largely middle-class clientele with the reality of Skid
Row blocks away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ryga pointed a finger accusing that audience…” (8). By the late 20<sup>th</sup> century however, critics began challenging the historical <i>Rita Joe</i> narrative, often implicating Ryga in perpetuating colonial attitudes and appropriating the voice of its aboriginal characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Agnes Grant was not alone when she argued, “</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US">Ryga’s
play simplistically sentimentalised the aboriginal plight as the
victimisation of passive children by irresponsible white parental
authorities, and that this well-meaning but Eurocentric, patriarchal
paradigm ultimately reflected the assimilationist policies of the
Department of Indian Affairs at that time.“<sup>2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></sup>In
2009, acclaimed First Nations playwright, director, actor, dramaturg
and cultural commentator, Yvette Nolan directed a production of <i>The Ecstasy of Rita Joe</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The
production was a co-production between Western Canada Theatre
(Kamloops) and the National Arts Centre (Ottawa) and, unlike the 1967/69
production featured aboriginal actor Lisa C Ravensbergen in the titular
role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Nolan’s production was a
thoughtful re-imagining of the play but it achieved a new sense of
urgency by connecting Rita Joe’s fictional story within the context of
Stolen Sisters/Sisters in Spirit and Canada’s growing outrage and
concern around the notorious ‘Highway of Tears’.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><sup><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US"></span></sup> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><sup><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">1 </span></sup><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Portman, Jamie. “Ecstasy of Rita Joe Still Manages to Shock and Scourge.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Vancouver Province </i>12 April 1976: pg 10<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span><sup>2</sup></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US">Grant, Agnes. "Canadian Native Literature: The Drama of George Ryga and Tomson Highway." <em><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Australian - Canadian Studies</span></em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>10.2 (1992): pg 40.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic" lang="EN-US"></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic" lang="EN-US">This edited anthology (to be published by University of Regina Press) </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">seeks
an intra/cross/multi disciplinary collection of essays reflecting,
commenting and challenging notions around the play’s legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Simply put, what does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </i>mean today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This call is</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US">
seeking expressions of interest for scholarly work (critical,
theoretical and/or creative work) that explores a wide range of
opinions, readings and responses to </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US">the text, its production (s) and its cultural/social history within Canada and abroad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">It
is the intention that this collection will address an array of
historical and contemporary issues connected to the play and its
production.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While it will have a strong focus on theatre history/studies submissions that inform<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and respond to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </i>from
diverse areas such as cultural studies, media and communication
studies, dance studies, queer studies, indigenous studies, sociology,
and urban studies, to name but a few, are most welcome. </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"></span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">POTENTIAL TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION COULD INCLUDE:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"></span> </p>
<ul style="MARGIN-TOP: 0cm" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Reconsidering the place and role of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe</i> within the Canadian theatre cannon</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The effect of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe</i> on Canadian playwrights and playwrighting</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Aesthetic, dramaturgical and cultural issues around the nature of the first production</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The legacy of George Ryga as playwright and/or theatrical deviser</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">as colonizing text /production</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Re-evaluating or re-framing George Ryga’s oeuvre</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The potential readings of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </i>as a reclaimed post-colonial text</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Biographical
sketches of key players involved in the creation/production of the play
(for example George Ryga, Joy Coghill or August Schellenberg)</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Changing critical responses <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </i>(as text or in production)</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">as gothic/queer text</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Critical readings/responses the various adaptations of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </i></span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Challenges/rewards of teaching <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </i>in the classroom</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Political, social or cultural readings and influences of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe</i></span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">as cultural ambassador </span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The critical reaction <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe </i>outside of Canada</span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The Ecstasy of Rita Joe</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"> and the Canadian centennial</span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">****This is a preliminary list only and is not meant to limit ideas or proposals****</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-VARIANT: small-caps; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Timeline</span></u></b></p>
<ul style="MARGIN-TOP: 0cm" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Interested authors are asked to contribute a short (300 word) abstract by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">January 1, 2015 </b>and accepted authors will be notified by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">February 1, 2015 <span style="mso-tab-count: 4"> </span></b></span>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Accepted and completed essays (5,000 – 7,000 words) will be due <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">February 1, 2016. </b></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">The</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"> </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">University of Regina Press </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang="EN-US">follows the humanities style of documentation according to <em><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The Chicago Manual of Style</span></em>.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"></span></b></p>
<ul style="MARGIN-TOP: 0cm" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Publication is scheduled for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">fall 2017 </b></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">For more information or to submit proposals</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA"> (and all other correspondence) please contact <br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA">Wes D Pearce - wes.pearce@uregina.ca - 306 585 5571<br></span></p>
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Wes D. Pearce, Professor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Associate Dean (Undergraduate) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Faculty of Fine Arts </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>University of Regina</FONT></DIV>
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