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Call for Papers "Race, Religion and Representation" International Conference Department of Pragmatics, University of Lódz Lódz (Poland) 7-10 May 2009 __________________________________________________ Lódz was a unique multicultural experiment, one of the most culturally-mixed cosmopolitan centers in 19th-century and pre-war Europe. It is fitting that a conference focusing on issues of race and religion, among other realms of multiculturalism, should be held in Lódz, which was the second largest Yiddish center in Europe (and the third in the world), a Polish city with also a unique German heritage, a place with a fascinating African-American historical connection. This inter-disciplinary conference intends to explore the many issues – past, present and future – that surround our notion of race and religion, along with its representation in the media and the arts. The conference will be a forum to address such issues as: - linguistic representation as socially constituted and constitutive - media and representation - images and representation - collective memories and linguistic representation - ideologies of power in the media - racial stereotypes in the media - language as a tool of racial discrimination - rhetoric of anti-Semitism, anti-Islamism and xenophobia - race and propaganda - metaphor and racial representation - religion and the media - religious images and concepts in contemporary culture - spoken and written forms of sacred texts - performativity and religious discourse - metaphor and religion - myths, archetypes and symbols - language and conflict - ethnic conflicts and representation in the media - language and identity - Jews and Polish-Jewish relations in art, media and literature - Islam and the Middle East in art, media and literature - African culture(s) in art, media and literature - Asian culture(s) in art, media and literature - Gypsy culture(s) in art, media and literature - Yiddish language and culture - new and changing Polish identities - Lódz and its cross-cultural challenges NB: The list of topics is NOT exhaustive. Abstracts The conference language will be English and Polish. Presentations will consist of 20-minute slots, followed by a 10-minute discussion time. Participants intending to give a paper are requested to e-mail an abstract of about 200-300 words to both of the following addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]. The abstract should include the participant’s name, academic position, affiliation, e-mail address and postal address. The deadline for abstracts is December 31, 2008. Notification of acceptance will be sent by January 15, 2009. Participants without a paper are asked to e-mail their name and academic affiliation only. A peer-reviewed selection of conference papers will be published with an international publisher. Pleanaries The conference will feature between 4 and 6 plenary lectures given by internationally-recognized specialists in their designated fields. The complete list of confirmed plenary presentations will be announced in late 2008/early 2009. Venue and Equipment The conference will be held at the University of Lódz Conference Center, ul. Kopcińskiego 16/18, 90-232 Lódz (www.csk.uni.lodz.pl/eng/index.php). The conference site offers all presentation amenities, including laptops, powerpoint beamers and overhead projectors. Registration Fees The registration fee covers a set of conference materials, coffee breaks with refreshments and access to Internet facilities. The regular fee is 150 Euros. Accommodation and full board in the Conference Center, including a buffet dinner party, is 350 Euros. Participants from Poland, East European countries and countries with severe currency restrictions (please contact the organizers to check if you qualify) will be offered reduced fees of 80 Euros (320 PLN, conference fee) and 150 Euros (600 PLN, accommodation and board). Please note that accommodation and full board cover a three-night stay (7th-8th, 8th-9th and 9th-10th May, breakfast included) plus the following meals: lunch and supper on the 7th, lunch and buffet dinner party on the 8th, lunch and supper on the 9th, and lunch on the 10th. Fees should be transferred by March 15, 2009 to the following bank account: “RRR, Monika Kopytowska”, Uniwersytet Łódzki Bank PKO S.A., II O/Łódź ul. Piotrkowska 270, 90-959 Łódź, Poland Acc. no. (IBAN): PL14 1240 3028 1111 0010 0434 7782 SWIFT: PKOPPLPWLDZ The second circular, which will contain detailed information on the conference venue, transportation, as well as a provisional program of the conference, will be e-mailed to the registered participants by March 31, 2009. Important dates - December 31, 2008, abstracts due - January 15, 2009, notification of acceptance - March 15, 2009, all conference fees due - March 31, 2009, second circular and provisional conference program Contact: Dr. Monika Kopytowska Department of Pragmatics Institute of English University of Lodz Al. Kosciuszki 65 90-514 Lodz Poland Tel/Fax: +48 42 6655220 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.filolog.uni.lodz.pl/pragmatics/RRR.htm __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org
