Southern Conference on Slavic Studies
March 25-27, 2010
Gainesville, Florida
The 48th annual meeting of the Southern Conference on Slavic Studies (SCSS) will take place in Gainesville, FL on March 25-27, 2010. The conference, hosted by the University of Florida, will be held at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, with a special conference rate of $135 per night (full breakfast buffet included). In addition to its proximity to the University’s performing arts and museum complex, the hotel comes with such amenities as complimentary high-speed internet access, fitness center, and outdoor swimming pool. Regular shuttles will be available to transport guests to historic downtown Gainesville.
In addition to the regular panels, there will be a special plenary roundtable session devoted to:
Gas Wars, Colored Revolutions, and Media Politics in Russia and the ‘Near Abroad'
Leading scholars of Russian and Ukrainian politics will gather to discuss media politics and prospects for relations between Russia, Europe, and the Russian “Near Abroad.
Roundtable participants include:
- Paul D’Anieri
Professor of Political Science and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida - Ellen Mickiewicz
James R. Shepley Professor of Public Policy, Duke University - Zachary Selden
Deputy Secretary General for Policy, NATO Parliamentary Assembly - Lucan Way
Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto
- Andrew Wilson
Senior Lecturer in Ukrainian Studies, University College London School
of Slavonic and East European Studies and Senior Policy Fellow for the European Council on Foreign Relations
Keynote
Following the plenary session, Professor Mark von Hagen will deliver the keynote address, “History Wars: Memory and Geopolitics in Eastern Europe,” at the Friday night banquet.
Film Screening: Cold Souls
Thursday 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Chandler Auditorium, Harn Museum of
Art
(5-10 minute walk from the Hilton)
- Starring: Paul Giamatti, David Strathairn, Dina Korzun, Katheryn Winnick,
Lauren Ambrose, Emily Watson
- Director: Sophie Barthes
- Introduced by Dr. Galina Rylkova, UF Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
In response to shiny, bigger, better American consumerism comes COLD SOULS, first-time feature director Sophie Barthes' surreal comedy in which souls can be extracted and traded as commodities. Balancing on a tightrope between deadpan humor and pathos, and reality and fantasy, the film presents Paul Giamatti as himself, agonizing over his interpretation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. Paralyzed by anxiety, he stumbles upon a solution via a New Yorker article about a high-tech company promising to alleviate suffering by extracting souls. Giamatti enlists their services - only to discover that his soul is the shape and size of a chickpea - intending to reinstate it once he survives the performance. Complications ensue when a mysterious, soul-trafficking “mule” borrows Giamatti's stored soul for a talentless, Russian soap-opera actress. Rendered soulless, Paul is left with no choice but to follow the trail back to St. Petersburg. Funny, charming and wildly imaginative, the film explores the profound moods and inner struggles of a man in search of his essence. Also starring David Strathairn, Emily Watson and Dina Korzun. -© IDP/Samuel Goldwyn Films
Free and open to the public.
