East Central/American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies Conference October 8-11 at SSU

SALISBURY, MD--October 8-11 the East Central/American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies holds its annual meeting at Salisbury State University. EC/ASECS is an interdisciplinary organization that encourages scholarship and research on all aspects of the long 18th century (1660-1800).

This year's theme for the conference is Transformations: Natural and Social and the 24 sessions consider how nature as well as society, culture and art seemed to transmogrify themselves during this era. The more than 70 presenters come from the West Coast, the Mid-West and Europe in addition to many large and small schools in the East.

The plenary address titled Burns and Bastards will be delivered by the noted British scholar Christopher Ricks, currently of Boston University. Ricks is sure to tweak politically correct attitudes toward illegitimacy and love children, said conference organizer Dr. William Horne of SSUs English Department. Ricks talk is at 10:45 a.m on Saturday, October 10, in Caruthers Hall Auditorium.

Entertainments begin Thursday, October 8, at 9 p.m. in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall with the Oral/Aural Experience featuring Troost and Staffel in a rendition of the complete Fielding farce Tom Thumb, followed by a dance. A cash bar will be available. Friday, October 10, at 8:30 p.m. in the Guerrieri University Center Wicomico Room is a concert by duo-pianists Linda Cockey and Maryen Harrett; and Saturday, October 11, at 8 p.m. the conference members will attend SSU Theatres production of John Vanbrughs 1696 comedy, The Relapse, directed by Dr. T. Paul Pfeiffer.

All Salisbury State University students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the conference sessions, the plenary address, the Oral/Aural Experience and the piano concert free of charge. Registration for the conference will be in the Great Hall on Thursday evening; on the second floor of Guerrieri University Center on Friday; and in Caruthers Hall, main lobby on Saturday and Sunday. For further information, contact Dawn Dryden in the English Department at 410-543-6445.