Friday 14 December 2012

Sites of Memory- Friday 22 February 2013

An interdisciplinary postgraduate conference and interactive workshop at the University of Birmingham

Call for Papers

How is memory related to physical space, objects and texts? How do different disciplines conceptualise memory? How do we research and write about memory?
“Sites of Memory” invites undergraduates, postgraduates and early career scholars to submit papers for an interactive workshop on memory across the disciplines. Running as the first in a series of three workshops based within the Centre of West African Studies at the University of Birmingham, this session seeks to provide an informal and hands-on environment where the subject of memory can be discussed in the broadest possible sense.
The first part of the conference will feature papers reflecting on memory in different disciplines and regions. This will be followed by an interactive workshop exploring how different ‘sites’ stimulate, document and dissemble memory. Presented with a case study in which past objects and events are remembered in multiple ways, participants will discuss issues related to the processes of remembering and commemoration.
We welcome proposals for 20 minute papers on all aspects of the study of memory, particularly those which engage with the physicality of memory and its relationship to space, place, objects, texts and bodies.
Sites of memory to consider include:
·    Bodily / imagined
·    Textual (primary and secondary sources)
·    Musical
·    Oral
·    Physical / geographical
·    Artistic (pictorial / artefacts)
     Encouraging interdisciplinary study and conversation, we welcome proposals from researcher working within, but not limited to, the following fields:
·    History     
·    Area Studies
·    English
·    Art History
·    Medical Sciences
·    Archaeology
Interested participants should submit a 100-200 word abstract and a 50 word biography, along with five-key words relating to their papers or memory interests. Please submit to Tom Penfold, twp005@bham.ac.uk and Rebecca Jones, RKJ982@bham.ac.uk by 7th January 2013. Selected participants will be invited back to participate in a peer review publication workshop later in the year, with a view to preparing papers for publication. For further details please see http://sitesofmemory.wordpress.com/