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Clay Stevens speaks on James Joyce to scholars in Rome

Clay Stevens in Rome. Stevens calls the similarity of his pose to the famous portrait of James Joyce, right, "coincidental and ironic."	James Joyce

The College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board helps to fund the presentation of faculty and student research at professional conferences worldwide.  Following is a report to the Board from Clay Stevens, graduate student in English, who recently presented a paper on James Joyce in Rome, Italy.

Dear Members of the Liberal Arts Advisory Board,

On February 1st I attended the James Joyce Italian Foundation Graduate Conference in Rome where I presented my paper, “'Let me be and let me live': The Specter of Death in James Joyce’s Ulysses." In attendance were graduate students (mostly Ph.D. candidates) and young scholars from all parts of the world, as well as a coterie of the most revered Joyceans, including Fritz Senn, Derek Attridge, John McCourt, and Umberto Eco. The presence of these scholars at this conference was a kind overture to those of us who are just entering the world of Joyce Studies. On the first morning of the conference, Dr. Attridge delivered a brilliant paper “Sign and Countersign: Derrida Reads Ulysses.” The opportunity to hear such a preeminent scholar deliver his most recent work was a fine experience. That afternoon I presented my paper during the panel session dedicated to scholarship on Ulysses. In every way, the presentation went better than I could have hoped. During the response period, the subject matter of my paper became the focus of discussion, and I fielded several questions, including one from Dr. Attridge, the respondent for that panel. Afterward, I was congratulated by more than one professor on delivering a fine paper and was told by several that it was either “the best” or “one of the best” presentations of the day. I can say without reservation that it was a distinct honor to represent Texas State at this conference and I am confident that the international community of Joyce scholars now has some indication of the kind of education being delivered here. Without the opportunity to study here, such an opportunity would never have arisen and my life would be poorer for it. For this and many other things, I am grateful to have studied here. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Clay Stevens