U.S. Department of State Institute on Contemporary American Literature

The Study of the United States Institute on Contemporary American Literature provides a multinational group of 18 experienced and highly-motivated foreign university faculty and scholars with a deeper understanding of contemporary American literature. Its purpose is twofold: 1) to explore contemporary American writers and writing in a variety of genres; and, 2) to suggest how the themes explored in those works reflect larger currents within contemporary American society and culture. The Institute explores the diversity of the American literary landscape, examining how major contemporary writers, schools, and movements reflect the traditions of the American literary canon. At the same time, the Institute exposes participants to writers who represent a departure from that tradition, and who are establishing new directions for American literature

The Institute on Contemporary American Literature is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is hosted by the Commonwealth Center for the Humanities and Society at the University of Louisville.

The 2009 Institute was held June 19 - August 1. This year, the Commonwealth Center hosted scholars from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Egypt, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

Resources for the 2009 Institute Participants

Materials from the 2008 Institute

Materials from the 2007 Institute

Pictures from the 2006 Institute

Participants of the Institute, both past and present, are encouraged to connect  with other participants and share ideas and experiences on these two websites:

www.alumni.state.gov 
State Alumni is your global community: a dynamic and interactive networking experience for all past and current participants of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.

www.connect.state.gov
ExchangesConnect is an international social network that promotes mutual understanding among members by highlighting cultures, commonalities, and exchange program experiences through user-generated content and multimedia tools like forums, blogs, photos, and videos.