Modern Language Association

The Modern Language Association of America, often referred to as the Modern Language Association
(MLA), is the principal professional association in the United States for scholars of language and
literature. The MLA aims to "strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature."[1] The
organization includes over 25,000 members in 100 countries, primarily academic scholars, professors,
and graduate students who study or teach language and literature, including English, other modern
languages, and comparative literature.[1][2] Although founded in the United States, with offices in New
York City, the MLA's membership, concerns, reputation, and influence are international in scope.[1]

History

The MLA was founded in 1883, as a discussion and advocacy group for the study of literature
and modern languages (that is, all but classical languages, such as ancient Latin and Greek).[1]
According to its profile featured by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), "The
Modern Language Association is formed for educational, scientific, literary, and social objects
and purposes, and more specifically for the promotion of the academic and scientific study of
English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and other so-called modern languages and
literatures."[2]

Officers and governance

The officers of the MLA are elected by its members. The 2017 president is Diana Taylor, and the
first vice president is Anne Ruggles Gere, who will advance to president in 2018. The 2017
second vice president is Simon Gikandi.

The MLA is governed by an Executive Council, elected periodically by its members, according
to the MLA Constitution. The Executive Director is Paula Krebs.[3]

Activities

The MLA publishes several academic journals, including Publications of the Modern Language
Association of America (abbreviated as PMLA), one of the most prestigious journals in literary
studies, and Profession, which is now published online on MLA Commons and discusses
professional issues faced by teachers of language and literature. The association also publishes
the MLA Handbook, a guide that is geared toward high school and undergraduate students and
has sold more than 6,500,000 copies. An eighth edition was published in spring 2016. The MLA
Style Manual was geared toward graduate students, scholars, and professional writers, and the
third edition was declared out of print in September 2016. The MLA produces the online
database, MLA International Bibliography, the standard bibliography in language and
literature.[4]

Since 1884 the MLA has held a national, four-day convention. Beginning in 2011, the
convention dates moved to the first Thursday following 2 January. Approximately eight to
twelve thousand members attend, depending on the location, which alternates among major cities
in various regions of the United States. The MLA Annual Convention is the largest and most
important of the year for scholars of languages and literature. Language departments of many
universities and colleges interview candidates for teaching positions at the convention, although
hiring occurs all year long. The organization's Job Information List (JIL) is available
online.[5][6][7][8][9]

In addition to its job-placement activities, the convention features about 800 sessions, including
presentations of papers and panel discussions on diverse topics (special sessions, forums, poetry
readings, film presentations, interdisciplinary studies involving art and music, governance
meetings) and social events hosted by English and language departments and allied or affiliated
organizations.[1] There are also extensive book exhibits in one of the main hotel or convention
center exhibition areas.

In November 2016, the association launched Humanities Commons, an open-access,

crossdisciplinary hub for anyone interested in humanities research and scholarship. Other not-
for-profit organizations involved in this project include College Art Association; Association for
Jewish Studies; and the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies.

The MLA's Web site features the MLA Language Map, which presents overviews and detailed
data from the United States 2000 Census about the locations and numbers of speakers of thirty
languages and seven groups of less commonly spoken languages in the United States and
Canada.

The association has highlighted issues such as race, gender and class in its professional
deliberations.[10] In The New Criterion, Roger Kimball and Hilton Kramer have argued that this
was part of a "rampant politicization of literary study that the MLA has aggressively supported"
in American colleges and universities, including elevating popular culture to a position of parity
with great works of literature as subjects for classroom study, and other "radical" postures.[11]

Controversy

The association was criticized for entertaining the idea of an academic boycott of Israel, in
December 2016.[12] The proposed Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) resolution was met
with backlash from scholars, lawyers, and organizations that denounced its anti-Semitic
sentiments and potential illegality.[13] The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under
Law issued a letter to President and Executive Director Kwame Anthony Appiah, warning the
association that the resolution was ultra vires.[14] The MLA rejected the boycott in a 113 to 79
vote during its annual meeting in January 2017.[15]

As part of the controversy, the Modern Language Association has been accused of filing
politically motivated copyright complaints against a conservative YouTube channel.[16]

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Language_Association