The Society for the Study of Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS) is a scholarly society first established in 1974. Together with the University of Connecticut, The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States publishes a non-profit journal quarterly titled Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States (also known as MELUS) . The aim of the journal and the Society is "to expand the definition of American literature through the study and teaching of Latino American, Native American, African American, Asian and Pacific American, and ethnically specific Euro-American literary works, their authors, and their cultural contexts."[1]
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The society was formed in response to the continued practice at the MLA annual conference's American Literature section of discussing only works by white men. The society was founded at the following year's conference, and within a few months had almost 100 members. At the conference the following year (1974), society members formally proclaimed their demand, "We must expand the canon of American literature!" In the early years, the society was relegated to the Foreign Languages division of the conference, because they refused to accept that American literature can only refer to English-language works. At this time, the society's goals included the recovery of lost works by minority authors, the compilation of bibliographies of minority literature, and the enlisting of the aid of ethnic studies scholars in all fields, as well as publishing book reviews, connecting scholars, and printing abstracts on ethnic studies dissertations.[2]
The Society participates "in the conventions of such scholarly organizations as the Modern Language Association and its Regionals, College English Association, National Women's Studies Association, American Studies Association, American Literature Association, and Popular Culture Association".[1] The society is currently led by its president Wenying Xu of Florida Atlantic University. [3]
| Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States | |
|---|---|
| Discipline | Literature, Ethnic studies |
| Edited by | Martha J. Cutter |
| Publication details | |
| Publisher | The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States (United States) |
| Publication history | 1974 - present |
| Frequency | quarterly |
| Indexing | |
| ISSN | 0163755X |
| LCCN | 2002-227149 |
| OCLC number | 50709793 |
| Links | |
The journal was first run by founding editor Katherine D Newman, who was succeeded by Joseph T Skerrett, Jr., then by Veronica Makowsky, and, most recently, by Martha J. Cutter.[4] MELUS is considered one of the premier journals in multicultural literary studies and is included in the JSTOR[5] and MLA databases. The journal has become a valuable resource for scholars, teachers, and students interested in African American, Asian and Pacific American, Native American, Arab American, Caribbean, and ethnically-specific European American works. It features scholarship and interviews with luminaries in the field as well as articles on multi-ethnic film, history, and culture and on newly emerging art forms, such as graphic narrative and internet blogs. The articles, interviews and reviews encompass the multi-ethnic scope of American literature past and present. Most issues are thematically organized for greater understanding of topics, criticism and theory in the total picture of American literature MELUS hopes to present. The journal is published for members and subscribing institutions; a non-profit publication, the journal is supported by dues of Society members, library subscriptions, funds from Patrons, and by the University of Connecticut.
Some of the most notable authors that have published in the journal are:
The journal has also published interviews with authors and essayists of note, including:
Since 1987, The Society for the Study of Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States has sponsored themed conferences in various locations around the United States. In 2010, the conference was held in Scranton, Pennsylvania with a theme of "Ethnic Transformations in the Self and the City," and in 2011 the conference met for the 25th year in Boca Raton, Florida with a theme of "Ethnic Canons in Global Contexts." These conferences feature "panels, workshops and round tables on all aspects of the multi-ethnic literaturesof the United States." [19] [20] The next conference is to be held in Santa Clara, California. [21]