Myths and Realities is the first international conference to structure a discussion of the intersections between Patagonia as a site for utopian, religious, aesthetic, scientific and patriotic quests and the region’s current cultural, political and social situation.
The conference gathers scholars working in various areas related to the culture and history of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia including travel writing, literary studies, cultural history, anthropology, film studies, media studies and indigenous rights
The Conference will also provide a space for artists, photographers, filmmakers and writers working on Patagonia to exhibit and/or talk about their work.

Patagonia: Myths and Realities The conference seeks to cover as widely as possible all aspects of the exploration, colonisation and representation of Patagonia from 1520 to the present. We particularly welcome papers and panels that address the question of Patagonia as a site for utopian, religious, aesthetic and patriotic quests as well as the region’s current cultural, political and social situation. The conference offers an interdisciplinary forum for scholars working in all areas related to the culture and history of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia including travel writing, literary studies, cultural history, anthropology, film studies, media studies, indigenous rights, political sciences, environmental studies and tourism. Proposals for panels and papers include, but are by no means limited to: - Past, present and future of the indigenous populations - Early modern to twentieth-century European representations of Patagonia - The Welsh Colony of the Chubut Valley and/or Welsh Patagonian literature - The King of Patagonia, Orellie Antoine I - Visual representations of Patagonia (film and photography) - Anglican and Catholic missions - Ethnographic narratives - “Local” explorers (i.e. Guillermo Cox, Francisco Pascacio Moreno, etc.) - Regional literature (i.e. Francisco Coloane, Asencio Abeijón, etc.) - Patagonia in Chilean and Argentine literature and film. - Indigenous literature and art - The Gold rush - Benetton and the Mapuches - Natural reserves and tourism The Conference will also provide a space for artists, photographers, filmmakers and writers working on Patagonia to exhibit and/or talk about their work. An abstract (250 words approximately) together with a sheet to include your name, title, affiliated institution, contact information and a short biography should be sent as an email attachment (MS Word, preferably) by February 15, 2005 to fernanda.penaloza@man.ac.uk Selected papers will be published as a collection which reflects the conference themes. Professor Jason Wilson, Dr Claudio Canaparo and Dr Fernanda Peñaloza will edit the book. Papers to be considered for publication should not exceed the 7000 words and should include an abstract. Both must be sent by June 15, 2005 to fernanda.penaloza@man.ac.uk Important: Please note that at this time we are seeking funding to cover the expenses of speakers coming from abroad. However we cannot guarantee that there will be funding available for those who might request it. Participants are encouraged to apply for financial support in their own institutions and we will be happy to provide documentation that might help to secure it. For queries and suggestions please contact: Dr Fernanda Peñaloza School of Languages, Linguistics and Cultures The University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL, UK Tel.: + 44 (0) 161 2753 543 Email: fernanda.penaloza@man.ac.uk