Memory and Civic Contention:
Faculty Fellowships for 2012-13

Anger and incivility permeate many societies. While there can be disagreements over the causes of this contention, the notion that things have "gotten worse"--in terms of our ability to articulate and address collective changes without losing our way in bitterness and personal invective--seems to be one of the few propositions that unites partisans across the spectrum of political, social, and cultural differences. Have public anger and uncivil discourse increased over time? Do narratives of decline create an imagined past in which civility reigned? And how do constructions of such a past color our diagnosis of current dilemmas?

During the 2012-13 academic year, the Center for the Study of History and Memory announces a competition for Faculty Fellowships for the academic year 2012-13. IU faculty from any discipline working on a significant project under the general topic of “Memory and Civic Contention” in any time and place are invited to apply for this support.  Proposals should include a three-page description of the research project, a one-page C.V. indicating the faculty member's educational background, IU rank and affiliation, and key publications. Applicants should also indicate any plans for seeking external support for their projects. The center will try to assist any such effort. ALL FELLOWS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT A LECTURE ON THEIR WORK TO THE BLOOMINGTON CAMPUS. PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY APRIL 1, 2012. Faculty selected to present their work will receive  a deposit to their research accounts of $1,500. Please submit proposals as Microsoft Word attachments to Dr. Barbara Truesdell, Center for the Study of History and Memory at her Outlook Exchange account "barbara" at indiana.edu.