Amiri Baraka at 80 Conference

Saturday 12 April 2014 University of Kent See attached notice for full CFP 2014 marks the 80th birthday of Amiri Baraka, of one of the most influential, controversial and galvanising cultural figures of the twentieth century. As poet, novelist, playwright, music critic, editor, and cultural organiser, Baraka has extended the possibilities of modern writing. This conference will seek to analyse how. From his early work as LeRoi Jones through to his agitational verse since the 1970s, Baraka has interrogated the relationship between art and political action, speech and act, writer and society, tradition and power, race and class, poet and nation, in the process re-imagining and enacting a radical politics that has forever marked the US social landscape. This conference seeks to assess the scope of nearly 65 years of work, considering the importance, paradoxes and potentialities of Baraka’s career across a range of disciplines. 200-word abstracts, along with your full name, academic affiliation (if applicable), and brief bio, should be sent to Ben Hickman at b.hickman@kent.ac.uk by 30th September 2013. Kent Amiri Baraka Conference: https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/baraka/

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/

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Block Grant Partnerships (BGP)

The School of Advanced Study, University of London has available a number of Studentships starting in October 2012 for both research (MPhil/PhD /doctoral) and Master's degrees under the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Block Grant Partnerships (BGP) scheme to Home/EU students, both full- and part-time, registered at one of the institutes of the School from the following subject areas:

·      Cultural Studies

·      European Language and Culture

·      History

·      History of Art

·      Law (within the subject area boundaries of the AHRC)

In addition to this, the School will offer up to two Doctoral Studentships awarded on a competitive basis to Home/EU or Overseas students, both full- and part-time, registered at one of the School’s institutes, to commence in October 2012.

AHRC BGP Studentships cover fees and maintenance allowance. A full Studentship is offered to those meeting UK residency criteria. EU nationals resident in the EU/EEA are eligible for a fees-only Studentship.

School Doctoral Studentships cover tuition fees and a maintenance grant. Students assessed for fees at the Overseas rate will be required to pay the difference between the Overseas and Home/EU fee. Only those students about to start their first year of study are eligible.

 

The current maintenance rates for both Studentships are £15,590 full-time and £9,355 part-time. Rates may be subject to change. 

 

The closing date for applications is 19 March 2012. 

For further information about the studentships visit http://www.sas.ac.uk/graduate-study/applications/tuition-fees  or contact katie.barton@sas.ac.uk.