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Call for Papers
Theme: Spaces and Places
Type: Inclusive Interdisciplinary Conference
Institution: Progressive Connexions
Location: Bruges (Belgium)
Date: 13.–14.4.2019
Deadline: 9.11.2018
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Every day we live and we move through spaces that have been created
to be significant. We recognize, resonate and – consciously or
unconsciously – react to this significance in a variety of different
ways and on a number of differing levels.
While we may not be aware of this process, our lives are lived in
constant interaction with these meanings and we do so by drawing from
a 'cultural well' of knowledge and experience. It is therefore
important to examine how we shape the spaces around us and explore
what the meanings are that we attach to inside and outside, here and
there, mine and yours, and even function and form. Understanding that
these meanings are time- and culturally-based is just the beginning;
it opens the door to broader sets of questions, allowing not only for
an examination of how they are understood today, but how they were
perceived and deployed in the past – and how they might be in the
future.
Our spaces and places confine us, expand us and ultimately define us.
They shape our moods and behavior; take for example our silence in a
church, our movement in a particular direction through a museum, or
our knowledge of where a bathroom might be in an office building.
They inhibit or encourage our feelings and actions through the
presence of cameras, the laws of society, the unstated rules of
propriety, standards of dress or the expectations of those around us.
The lines on a two-dimensional map can determine our movement through
a city or our path across a mountain range; technology creates the
possibility of movement by use of a sat nav or the 3D rendering of
buildings not yet constructed. What can we make of the places we
discover in archaeological quests or anthropological pursuits? How do
we design the places and the spaces of the future?
The starting point for this inaugural inclusive interdisciplinary
meeting takes as its point of departure the basic questions: how do
we designate place and how do we delineate space? What is the
difference between the two? The conference aims to examine the ways
space is bounded or expanded to create place. We will begin to map
how the concepts and experiences that make up our understanding of
what spaces and places mean are political, social, and specific to
our culture(s), and how space and place dance with each other in the
middle of it all. Our discussions and reflections will take place
with a view to forming an innovative publication to open the doors to
engender further collaborations, research and discussions.
Rather than focus on a specific space or place – though case studies
and problem solving exercises are illuminating ways of drawing
perspectives and insights – we invite proposals that cover a number
of approaches to the way processes of all kinds shape us and our
world in the way they create, confine, shape and define the spaces
and places we inhabit.
We welcome abstracts and submissions of 300 words relating to these
considerations. The following list is intended to be springboard as
well as prompt; you may use these ideas or send us one of your own;
- Life-spaces; life places.
* How does our living space define us?
* How do we define ourselves through space and place?
* How does what we exclude define others?
- Architectural movements and theories
- Space and social control (panopticon, surveillance space, etc.)
* Schools and prisons, Bentham
- Dangerous places, places of power
* No-go zones
* Demilitarized zones
* Impacts of war and territorial conflict on space and place
- Mapping, naming and defining space and place
* Urban planning
* Heritage spaces and places
* Conservation and usage of natural spaces, humanity's capacity to
preserve space and place
- Colonial spaces
* Contact zones
- Spaces and Places of the Future
* Sustainability, viability; living spaces, living places.
Detached homes, tower blocks, gated communities.
* Science fiction spaces and their cultural function.
- Class, space and place (gentrification, 'white flight', slums,
ghettos, hostile architecture to prevent sleeping rough on benches,
etc.)
- Indigenous/First Peoples conceptualisations of space and place
- Space, place and the influence of gender, sexuality, race.
* The shaping of lived experiences.
* Gendered spaces
- Spaces and Places of Faith
* Churches, temples, mosques, fairy circles, Stonehenge and other
stone circles, cemeteries, monasteries, crypts, etc.
- Mathematical and scientific conceptualisations of space
- Legal aspects of space and place (ownership and property rights,
building codes, zoning, etc)
- Politics of space and place (territorial sovereignty, colonialism
and empire, etc)
- Activism and protest linked to particular uses of space
- Explorations of space and place in film, theatre, music,
television, advertising, video games, poetry, literature, art, and
other creative practices
- Commodification of space and place (Real estate, admission charges
for visiting places, etc)
- Humanity's destructive influences on space and place (climate
change, pollution, etc.)
- Processes by which spaces and places acquire particular
connotations and meanings in the human imagination — and how those
meanings change
- Liminal spaces
- Cities
- Monuments, public parks, who has access to these spaces
- What draws us to urban spaces, rural spaces, open or closed
communities?
- What draws people away from home to experience other places?
* What are the differences in perception of spaces by visitors
compared to residents? How does this affect tourism?
- Where is the study of spaces/places happening?
- Where are spaces and places being perceived, presented and
represented?
What to Send
The aim of this interdisciplinary conference and collaborative
networking event is to bring people together and encourage creative
conversations in the context of a variety of formats: papers,
seminars, workshops, storytelling, performances, poster
presentations, panels, q and a's, roundtables etc.
300 word proposals, presentations, abstracts and other forms of
contribution and participation should be submitted by Friday 9th
November 2018. Other forms of participation should be discussed in
advance with the Organising Chair.
All submissions will be minimally double reviewed, under anonymous
(blind) conditions, by a global panel drawn from members of the
Project Development Team and the Advisory Board. In practice our
procedures usually entail that by the time a proposal is accepted, it
will have been triple and quadruple reviewed.
You will be notified of the panel's decision by Friday 23rd November
2018.
If your submission is accepted for the conference, a full draft of
your contribution should be submitted by Friday 1st March 2019.
Abstracts and proposals may be in Word, PDF, RTF or Notepad formats
with the following information and in this order: a) author(s), b)
affiliation as you would like it to appear in the programme, c) email
address, d) title of proposal, e) body of proposal, f) up to 10
keywords.
E-mails should be entitled: Spaces and Places Submission
Where to Send
Abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to the Organising Chair
and the Project Administrator:
Teresa Cutler-Broyles: [email protected]
Project Administrator: [email protected]
What's so Special About Progressive Connexions Events?
A fresh, friendly, dynamic format – at Progressive Connexions we are
dedicated to breaking away from the stuffy, old-fashion conference
formats, where endless presentations are read aloud off PowerPoints.
We work to bring you an interactive format, where exchange of
experience and information is alternated with captivating workshops,
engaging debates and round tables, time set aside for getting to know
each other and for discussing common future projects and initiatives,
all in a warm, relaxed, egalitarian atmosphere.
A chance to network with international professionals – the beauty of
our interdisciplinary events is that they bring together
professionals from all over the world and from various fields of
activity, all joined together by a shared passion. Not only will the
exchange of experience, knowledge and stories be extremely valuable
in itself, but we seek to create lasting, ever-growing communities
around our projects, which will become a valuable resource for those
belonging to them.
A chance to be part of constructing change – There is only one thing
we love as much as promoting knowledge: promoting real, lasting
social change by encouraging our participants to take collective
action, under whichever form is most suited to their needs and
expertise (policy proposals, measuring instruments, research
projects, educational materials, etc.) We will support all such
actions in the aftermath of the event as well, providing a platform
for further discussions, advice from the experts on our Project
Advisory Team and various other tools and intellectual resources, as
needed.
An opportunity to discuss things that matter to you – Our events are
not only about discussing how things work in the respective field,
but also about how people work in that field – what are the
struggles, problems and solutions professionals have found in their
line of work, what are the areas where better communication among
specialists is needed and how the interdisciplinary approach can help
bridge those gaps and help provide answers to questions from specific
areas of activity.
An unforgettable experience – When participating in a Progressive
Connexions event, there is a good chance you will make some long-time
friends. Our group sizes are intimate, our venues are comfortable and
relaxing and our event locations are suited to the history and
culture of the event.
Ethos
Progressive Connexions believes it is a mark of personal courtesy and
professional respect to your colleagues that all delegates should
attend for the full duration of the meeting. If you are unable to
make this commitment, please do not submit an abstract or proposal
for presentation.
Progressive Connexions is a not-for-profit network and we are not in
a position to be able to assist with conference travel or
subsistence, nor can we offer discounts off published rates and fees.
Please send all enquiries to: [email protected]
Conference website:
http://www.progressiveconnexions.net/interdisciplinary-projects/global-transformations/spaces-and-places/conferences/
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