Hyphenated Histories ― Articulations of Central European Bildung and Slavic Studies in the Contemporary Academy

Stating that "scholars, like snails, reproduce asexually," Gow (history, U. of Alberta) laments the undermining of traditional Bildung models of academic training by a globalized market mentality, in introducing nine chapters by a virtual collective of international scholars reflecting on the interdisciplinary Cultural Studies trend. Based on the "Hyphenated Histories" U. of Alberta conference in Edmonton in 2005, these papers ably represent paradigm shifts in the humanities. In challenges to postcolonial theory-based interpretations of central European history, case studies exemplify how transdisciplinary lenses can scale Slavic Studies' disciplinary divisions. E.g., contributors bridge history with cultural studies in discussing Susan Sontag's views on a Russian photography exhibit commemorating World War II, and Vertov's 1929 movie, Man with a Movie Camera. Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Andrew Colin Gow, Ph.D. (1993) in History, University of Arizona, is Professor of History at the University of Alberta (Edmonton/Canada). He has published on medieval and early modern cultural and religious history, including The Red Jews. Antisemitism in an Apocalyptic Age, 1200-1600 (Brill 1995).