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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL DAYS: GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: 29-30 NOVEMBER 2007 NATIONAL DAYS: SUMMONING THE NATION? Celebrating, commemorating, communicating, contesting… Le quatorze juillet, Independence Day, Burns Night, la Diada de Catalunya, Thanksgiving, syttende mai, Super Bowl Sunday, el Día de la Hispanidad, 国庆 节… All these – and many more – are days which “summon”, or attempt to summon the “nation”: in some cases to large-scale, occasionally extravagant public festivities and ceremonies, in others to more privatised, even domestic forms of national awareness. They may be related to great historical events (usually battles – most often victories, less commonly defeats), or they may be an attempt to erase the memory of historical events: Russia’s recently instituted National Unity Day, now celebrated on 4 November, appears to be an attempt to ‘erase’ the memory of earlier celebrations of the Russian Revolution. In yet other cases they may provide a framework for celebrations of nationhood linked to would-be “epic” sporting events, to the lives of saints, to royal birthdays or even to literary figures such as Burns in Scotland or Camões in Portugal. Some of these “nations” – like the Scots, the Catalans or the Québécois – may be located within much larger, plurinational states, while other National Days – such as the Latin American Día de la Raza – claim to unite different nations in a larger transnational community transcending the boundaries of individual nation states. Yet others may include significant diasporic elements (the celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day in the United States). But in any case what is a “nation”: do African Americans and Hispanics enjoy a sense of ownership of Independence Day? Do Scottish Muslims identify with Saint Andrew’s Day? Is class a factor? For some, are such days just an excuse for a day off work? And how are we to account for those cases (such as the UK) where there is no official National Day? In all cases the political dimension of National Days seems clear enough, though its status may vary from hegemonic through informal to contestatory. What forms of expression does this political dimension take? The celebration of such days can also be linked to what are in some ways seen as “holy places” (for example Montserrat in Catalonia) and often involve (very) significant movements of population. How are these sites managed? Do such large migrations entail opportunities for national, or even international tourism? How are National Days mediated? How is this mediation managed in multilingual societies? This conference, which will be held at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, on 29 and 30 November 207, will discuss the following issues: The politics of National Days National Days and the construction of the nation National Days and the invention of tradition National Days in the stateless nation The symbols and iconography of National Days National Days and class National Days and diasporas National Days and heritage sites National Days and religion The language and rhetoric of National Days National Days and gender Public and privatised National Days National Days in film, television, radio and the press National days and the internet National Days and tourism … and indeed other topics relating to the complex and multifaceted phenomenon The invited keynote speakers are: Salvador Cardús, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Hu Zhengrong, Communication University of China, Beijing Douglas Kellner, University of Central Los Angeles, USA David McCrone, Edinburgh University, Scotland The full conference programme is available at: www.caledonian.ac.uk/nationaldays <http://www.caledonian.ac.uk/nationaldays> The early-bird registration fee of £220 is available until 31 October 2007. Registration is via the conference website. For more information e-mail [log in to unmask] or contact Prof. Hugh O’Donnell Cultural Business Group Glasgow Caledonian University Cowcaddens Road Glasgow G4 0BA Scotland (UK) Tel: +44 (0)141 331 3262 Fax: +44 (0)141 331 3264 e-mail: [log in to unmask]