Fifth Biennial Conference

Artwork: “Endless Marsh” by Jonathan Green

The Toni Morrison Society is pleased to announce its Fifth Biennial Conference, Toni Morrison and Modernism. The Fifth Biennial Conference will explore Modernism from many perspectives in the fiction of Toni Morrison. Expanding on the traditional notions of European and American Modernism in literature, history and philosophy, this conference will highlight diasporic notions of Modernism. Specifically, it will examine how the tragic imperative of enslaved Africans in the U.S. to “make themselves new” in order to survive, predated and, in many ways, countered the alienating impulses of Modernism of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This diasporic approach to Modernism is particularly fitting for this conference, given that 2008 marks the 200th anniversary of the end of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Our setting in Charleston, South Carolina, the largest port entry of enslaved Africans and a site rich in the history, art, music of the Gullah culture, allows a treasure of ways to explore how Africans recreated themselves in this new world.

In keeping with the tradition of the Toni Morrison Biennial Conferences, we plan to introduce conference participants to historic and cultural sites in the city and local region that relate to the conference theme as well. Charleston has a rich history in the U. S. and for African Americans in particular. We would like for conference participants to engage as much as possible in the programmatic components of the Anniversary of the end of the Transatlantic Slave Trade that will already be in place in Charleston in July 2008.

The 5th Biennial Conference Schedule - Toni Morrison and Modernism

New Conference Information

The Fifth Biennial Conference has updated information. Now, you can register for new events and offerings. The online registration has the following new items:

* Toni Morrison will read from her new novel, A Mercy, on Friday evening, July 25th at 8:00PM in the Sottile Theatre in Charleston. Please reserve tickets for this event by calling 1-843-953-1939 or Register for tickets online.

* Conference Rates for the George Street Apartments extended to July 11th.

air travel

The Charleston International Airport is serviced by the following airlines: AirTran, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, Northwest Airlines, United Express, and US Airways. For additional airport information, please refer to http://www.chs-airport.com/. If you need assistance with travel, please contact Auburn Travel in Auburn, New York for reservations at 1-800-622-2754. Ask for DeAnna Taylor.

ground transportation

A shuttle is available to destinations in Downtown Charleston. The fare for the Downtown Shuttle is $12.00 per passenger and departs every fifteen minutes from the Taxi/Shuttle Booth directly outside the airport. Payment will be made directly to the shuttle driver. Reservations for your return can be made with the shuttle driver or by calling Airport Limo-Taxi Association at (843) 607-5456. Please note that the shuttle is a shared ride and may make several stops, depending on the number of passengers.

hotel accomodations

The College of Charleston, located one block from the Francis Marion Hotel, has rooms available at the George Street Apartments. Ideal for budget-conscious travelers, the rate per night, per person is $55.00. Each apartment has three to five fully furnished single bedrooms with shared common areas. Please refer to the “Toni Morrison Conference” when making your reservation. Reservations should be made by July 11, 2008, by phone at (843) 953-1939. Payment for the George Street Apartments will need to be made by cash or check to the College of Charleston by July 15th at (843) 953-1939. After July 11th, the College will be unable to accept requests for rooms.

The Francis Marion Hotel, located in the heart of historic downtown and serving as the conference site, has a limited number of private rooms available. Conference participants have a reduced room rate of $149 per night for a single or double room. Please refer to the “Toni Morrison Conference” when making your reservation. Reservations should be made by June 30th, 2008, by phone at (877) 756-2121. After June 30th, the hotel will accept requests for rooms according to space and rate availability. For additional hotel information, please refer to http://www.francismarioncharleston.com/
» Download Online Booking Instructions for The Francis Hotel

Fifth Biennial Conference

New Conference Information

air travel

ground transportation

hotel accomodations

conference schedule

Conference Panel Schedule

Registration

additional visitor information