GASF on IAAS and Other Acronyms

Our official launch received a mention on the newly-revamped Irish Association of American Studies Website. 

IAAS.ie has details of the association's history, upcoming events, prizes and more. I strongly encourage all GASF members to look into the WTM Riches Prize. Established in 2004 this is a monetary prize for high-quality working from younger scholars in the American Studies field. The winning essay will also be considered for publication in the Irish Journal of American Studies.

The Galway American Studies Forum Presents...

Poster for "Destroying the 'Silver Linings', The American Media and the Vietnam War, 1968 - 1971"

The Galway American Studies Forum Presents...

Destroying the ‘silver linings’:
The American media and the Vietnam War, 1968-71

With guest speaker Gavin Wilk, University of Limerick 

Tuesday, 5th June, at 12.30pm

in

The Moore Institute Seminar Room

Abstract: This paper will demonstrate through relevant examples how the American media, from the 1968 Tet Offensive to the publication of the Pentagon Papers in 1971, offered a subjective and unfiltered view of the Vietnam War to the American public. During this period, the American media abandoned a previously close connection with the military and government and instead moved independently through various mediums to denounce the Vietnam War. This dramatic period transformed the way American journalists cover conflicts and also significantly altered the relationship between the American media, government and military officials.

About Gavin Wilk: A Visiting Lecturer in History at the University of Limerick, Gavin recently completed a PhD in History and was an IRCHSS Postgraduate Scholar from 2008-11. His thesis examines the militant Irish republican movement in the United States from 1923 to 1939 and focuses on the important role of Irish Republican Army (IRA) veterans in the US-based Irish republican movement. Gavin has completed a number of articles for reference works in American history, including a recent contribution of fourteen articles to the M.E. Sharpe publication, America in World History, an encyclopaedia which presents American history through an international context.

GASF Inaugural Meeting: Minutes

1. Introduction

• What American Studies has mean historically, and what it has come to mean in recent years.
• The EXPLORE project, the NUI Galway Bright Ideas Initiative, and the Student Projects Fund.
• Background to the formation of the forum - a place to try out ideas, discuss methodological issues and develop a community of scholars concerned with American Studies in NUI Galway.
• Building a bridge between NUI Galway and the Irish and British Associations of American Studies.
• Some ideas for special events.

2. The Scholars

• We performed that embarrassing task of going around the room, introducing ourselves and our research, and discussing what we hoped to gain from the forum. These expectations included: helping to fill out gaps in each others knowledge; looking to scholars concerned with the U.S. to inform aspects of research on South American topics; seeking information on funding available for travel; publication and conference opportunities.

3. The Irish, British, and European Associations of American Studies

• Having traveled recently to the BAAS Conference in Manchester, and the IAAS Conference in Cork, Rosemary gave a rundown of how these associations operate and the benefit of our involvement, particularly in terms of disseminating our research through conference papers and publications. 
• The IAAS is very keen to rekindle links with NUI Galway. The GAS Forum will create a community of scholars in Galway concerned with American Studies, and through visiting speakers and participation in IAAS organised conferences, we can disseminate our research further afield. 
• The GAS Forum will include researchers concerned with South America and Canada, not just the United States. In an inter-disciplinary forum debates about issues such as gender, ethnicity, and colonisation can be more well-informed if South American Scholars in particular are present. The inclusion of Canada and South American in the field is a topic of ongoing debate in the larger associations, however the members of GASF feel a continental approach is beneficial.

4. Conference and Publication Opportunities

• NUI Galway could potentially host an American Studies Conference in the near future. Members of the forum could assist each other in hosting American Studies themed events.
• BAAS has issued a call-for-papers for its Postgraduate Conference in November, Memory: America Past, Present and Future.
• IAAS is accepting submissions for its journal, to be published biannually. Contact details will be posted shortly, upon confirmation.

 5. Funding Opportunities

• One common concern of the scholars present was the issue of funding overseas travel.
• GASF will endeavor to host information sessions in the coming months on the Fulbright Scholarship in September/October ahead of the November deadline, and other funding opportunities as they are advertised.
• The IAAS may be able to assist postgraduate students who wish to travel to BAAS conferences in the UK. Further details to be posted when available.

Galway American Studies Forum Inaugural Meeting

The EXPLORE Initiative

The NUI Galway American Studies Forum is delighted to announce that we have been approved for funding from the Students' Union EXPLORE Initiative. 


EXPLORE promotes projects joint-organised by staff and students. We feel our ethos perfectly reflects this, as our goal is to bring together research students and working academics in a regular forum. 


We are very proud to be considered an innovative project worthy of this accolade.

Welcome to the Galway American Studies Forum

The idea of the project is to allow American Studies post-graduate researchers and academics to come together and explore the inter-disciplinary nature of the field to its full potential. We believe that an outlet that encourages post-graduate students and academics to network on a regular basis will enrich the postgraduate experience, and encourage researchers to avail of expertise in different departments. We hope to bring in regular speakers of interest to researchers across the field, for example from the Fullbright Commission and postgraduate representatives from the Irish and British Associations of American Studies. Furthermore students will be encouraged to present their research regularly in a supportive forum for feedback and encouragement.

If you are interested in becoming involved, or wish to be added to our mailing list and notified of events, please email rosemarydgallagher@gmail.com