The Society of Early Americanists convened earlier this month in Tulsa, OK, to talk about American literature and culture. This year’s conference featured blooming trees, a bus trip to the Gilcrease, and a keynote lecture considering Anompolichi: The Word Master. It also featured Early Americanists saying, well, Early Americanist things …
1. Person 1: “Is it taboo to go past the year 1800 at this conference?”
Person 2: “You have a few decades of wiggle room, but don’t push it.”
2. “The only thing I know about Oklahoma is that it’s where B. D. Wong went on Law & Order: SVU.”
3. “As a historian, I’m not sure I understood, but I could listen to that guy read Thomas Paine poetry all day long.”
4. Person 1: “This is my first time being the only woman in the room on a temporality panel.”
Person 2: [gestures to PowerPoint] “Abigail Adams is also here.”
5. “I’m softer on Latour than most.”
6. “At the end of The Witch, she basically just goes to Oberlin, right?”
7. “I mean, what else are you going to do? Go to Zumba with your students?”
8. “Someone is citing me for something that doesn’t exist yet.”
9. “I don’t care if they reject my article because I’m sassy.”
10. “Adult fiction … but not that kind.”
11. “On the one hand I want to take my time and write something good. On the other hand I want to get out before the university collapses.”
12. “Margaritas are great. I mean, I know you’re about to present, but whatever.”
13. Person 1: “I’m the perfect age for the Backstreet Boys.”
Person 2: “#AltAc.”
14. “The young wrestlers sharing the Hyatt with us this weekend are a delight—very democratic!”
15. “Wait, you’re not here for the wrestling championship?”
