Sunday 31 October 2010

Call for Papers: NOW, Legacies and Amnesia

CALL FOR PAPERS

NOW, Legacies and Amnesia
An Interdisciplinary Colloquium for Postgraduate Students

18-19 February 2011
Goldsmiths, University of London


What is the current climate of right now, of this very moment? In what way does our memory of the past influence our perception of the present and of our trajectories into the future? What role do lineage and legacy play in current practice?  In an 'age of uncertainty', the ways we choose to articulate our present, the current, the 'now', will establish the way we will be interpreted in the future. NOW, Legacies and Amnesia is an international student-led colloquium for postgraduates that will explore the theoretical and practical implications of where we are right now – individually, locally, and globally.

This call for papers invites postgraduates from all fields to examine the factors that influence our perceptions of the now.  Topics may include, but are not limited to: the relationship between tradition and contemporanaeity; questions of legacy and/or the discontinuation of legacy, including dialogues of lineage; issues surrounding selective amnesia with regards to socio-cultural histories; amnesia and the body; body-memory; transmission through the body; understanding the notion of ‘presence’ and ‘liveness’ within performance and digitality; the dichotomy between the lived and the recounted/reported experience; and the constant struggle for the ‘new’ in the ‘now’.

Organised by the Sociology of Theatre and Performance Research Group at Goldsmiths, University of London, led by Professor Maria Shevtsova, this event will provide an opportunity for postgraduates across the UK and abroad to engage with their peers across disciplines in a challenging and supportive environment. In addition to showcasing their own research through the presentation of conference papers, students will be able to participate in roundtable discussions and panel sessions over the course of the event. This is a unique opportunity for postgraduates across the country to meet, network and exchange ideas in a truly interdisciplinary context.

We welcome submissions from postgraduate research students for individual papers or practice-based presentations that do not exceed 15 minutes. Please submit your name, department, university, conference paper title and 250-word abstract to stpr.group@gmail.com.

Deadline for applications is 7 December 2010

Please don't hesitate to contact us with any queries you may have.
We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,
Scheherazaad Cooper
Philippa Burt

PhD Students in the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts
Sociology of Theatre and Performance Research Group
Goldsmiths University of London
http://www.gold.ac.uk/drama/sociologyoftheatreandperformanceresearchgroup/
http://www.stprgroup.blogspot.com/

Thursday 25 February 2010

Bodies and Socio-Histories: See you next year!

A big thank you to our presenters and delegates: see you next year!

Bodies and Socio-Histories, the fourth interdisciplinary postgraduate colloquium organised by the Sociology of Theatre and Performance Research Group (STPRG) based within the Department of Drama, took place at Goldsmiths, University of London on 19 and 20 February 2010. Following the directive of Professor Maria Shevtsova and organised entirely by and for postgraduates, the colloquium presented nineteen academic papers given by postgraduate research students who represented twelve different universities from the UK, Slovenia and Canada. An interdisciplinary emphasis characterised the colloquium programme, which placed Drama-based doctoral candidates at Goldsmiths alongside research students from such diverse fields as Sociology, English Literature, Politics and Fine Art. The calibre of papers presented at Bodies and Socio-Histories was notably high – enabled by a substantial response to the broadly circulated Call for Papers – and the scholarly rigour of the event continued to manifest itself in the panel and round table discussions which opened debate to the postgraduate and professional audience. Around sixty delegates attended the event as audience members, including students and faculty members from universities across the UK and abroad. This represents the highest turn-out yet for the STPRG’s yearly colloquia series. An even broader audience was attracted for the Friday evening Dance Double Bill presented in Studio 3 at Goldsmiths, which showcased the work of two practice-as-research PhD candidates within the Department of Drama. Initial feedback, offered immediately by presenters and delegates at the close of the colloquium, demonstrates an unreserved recognition of the success of the event, in terms of both its academic quality and the collegiate atmosphere that was cultivated over the course of the two days. The STPRG will build on the success of Bodies and Socio-Histories with a fifth postgraduate colloquium in February 2011.

Bodies and Socio-Histories Organising Committee:
Shanu Sadhwani, Arabella Stanger (Co-Chairs)
Philippa Burt, Scheherazaad Cooper

Sociology of Theatre and Performance Research Group:
Founding Director: Professor Maria Shevtsova
Student Division:
Philippa Burt, Scheherazaad Cooper, Rebecca McFadden, Richard J. Piatt, Anna Porubcansky, Shanu Sadhwani, Rachel Shapiro, Arabella Stanger



Feedback for Bodies and Socio-Histories


“A brilliant conference, clearly well conceived and put together. I think everyone there found it stimulating and worthwhile. An empowering experience.” 
Bodies and Socio-Histories Presenter, PhD Fine Art Practice, University of Creative Arts

“The cross referencing of concepts across a range of subject areas and subsequent formal and informal discussion groups were informative and engaging. I am confident that concepts generated and ideas shared over the two days will prove invaluable in the development of my research.”
Bodies and Socio-Histories Presenter, PhD Department of Art and Design, Swansea Metropolitan University

“I had my brain tweaked in a way that I've missed at other academic colloquia. I don't think the colloquium could be improved upon. Everything from sending us a list of affordable accommodation to organizing a post-event email list has all been above and beyond expectation.
Bodies and Socio-Histories Presenter, Department of Sociology Concordia University, Montreal

“The lectures were so varied and interesting, and the atmosphere so warm. It was a real pleasure to be part of it.”
Bodies and Socio-Histories Presenter, PhD English Department, Royal Holloway, University of London

“I'm so glad I attended. It was immensely rewarding and, as the first conference I've ever been to, immensely educational! I can't help feeling I was very lucky to go to such a beautifully organized colloquium for my first time.”
Bodies and Socio-Histories Delegate, PhD Candidate, University of Essex

“Thanks for a fantastic colloquium - I'm looking forward to next year already!”
Bodies and Socio-Histories Presenter, PhD School of Politics, Birkbeck, University of London


Bodies and Socio-Histories was made possible with support from the Graduate School and Department of Drama at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Tuesday 9 February 2010

Dance Double Bill: Sold Out

The Dance Double Bill
Nayika - A Woman in Love and HTAP. Studio no 3
presented as part of the Bodies and Socio-Histories colloquium on Friday 19 February 2010 is now completely SOLD OUT.

However, booking remains open for the academic events register.

Bodies and Socio-Histories
An Interdisciplinary Colloquium for Postgraduate Students
19 - 20 February 2010
Goldsmiths, University of London

For full details of the programme, please see below or visit:

http://www.gold.ac.uk/drama/sociologyoftheatreandperformanceresearchgroup/programme/

To reserve your free place at the colloquium, please email:

stpr.group@gmail.com

Friday 22 January 2010

Bodies and Socio-Histories Schedule Announced

Bodies and Socio-Histories

19-20 February 2010

Goldsmiths, University of London

Programme of events

FRIDAY, 19 FEBRUARY 2010

09:30-10:00 Registration and check-in open.

Location: Ben Pimlott Building, Ground Floor

Morning Session

Location: Ben Pimlott Lecture Theatre

10:00-10:10 Introduction and Welcome

Shanu Sadhwani, Bodies and Socio-Histories Co-Chair

10:15-10:30 Kathy M. Milazzo

PhD Department of Dance, Film and Theatre

University of Surrey

Black on the Outside: The Guineo in Spain’s Golden Age

10:30-10:40 Question and Answer session led by Arabella Stanger

10:45-11:00 Elisabetta Bertolino

PhD Candidate School of Law

Birkbeck College

Disembodied bodies

11:00-11:10 Question and Answer session led by Arabella Stanger

11:15-11:30 Natalia Lebedinskaia

MA Art History Department

Concordia University, Montreal

Body as Spectacle: Morality and Gender in the European

Tradition of Anatomical Displays

11:30-11:40 Question and Answer session led by Arabella Stanger

11.40-11.50 Short Break

11.50-12.50 Panel Discussion:

With information-technological advances in fields such as medicine, the arts and communication, perceptions of the physicalised body have changed. How has this affected the significance of corporeality in contemporary culture?

Led by Philippa Burt, Goldsmiths, University of London

12.50-13.50 Break for Lunch

Afternoon Session

Location: Ben Pimlott Lecture Theatre

14:00-14:15 Amanda Roberts

PhD Department of Art and Design

Swansea Metropolitan University

An Examination of the Quantifiable Nature of a Positive Representation of Women

14:15-14:25 Question and Answer session led by Arabella Stanger

14:30-14:45 Aisha Phoenix

PhD Department of Sociology

Goldsmiths, University of London

The Role of Dress in Somali Young Women’s Negotiation of Hierarchies of Belonging

14:45-14:55 Question and Answer session led by Arabella Stanger

15:00-15:15 Scheherazaad Cooper

PhD Department of Drama

Goldsmiths, University of London

Performing Codification: Creating Space and ‘Dressing’ the Female Body in Odissi Indian Classical Dance

15:15-15:25 Question and Answer session led by Arabella Stanger

15:30-15:45 Break for coffee, tea and snacks

15:45-16:00 Marianne Burton

PhD English Department

Royal Holloway, University of London

The Betraying Body in Henry James’s The American : How Cultural and Socio-economic History is Displayed by Characters’ Physical Movement in the Early Novels of Henry James

16:00-16:10 Question and Answer session led by Philippa Burt

16:15-16:30 Laura Malacart

PhD Candidate

Slade School of Fine Art, University College London

The News Editor: Rhythm and Pace as Political Critique

16:30-16:40 Question and Answer session led by Philippa Burt

16:45-17:00 Shanu Sadhwani

PhD Department of Drama

Goldsmiths, University of London

Moving Histories: The Diasporic Body in Faultline

17:00-17:10 Question and Answer session led by Philippa Burt

17:15 Closing remarks

Arabella Stanger, Bodies and Socio-Histories Co-Chair

17:30 Refreshments in The Green Room Bar, Goldsmiths Student Union

Dance Performance Double Bill

Followed by question and answer sessions with the artists

18:30-19:30 Nayika - A Woman in Love

Narrated through Odissi Indian Classical Dance

Performed by Scheherazaad Cooper

Studio 3, Goldsmiths, University of London

19:30-19:45 Short Interval

19.45-20.15 HTAP. Studio nº 3

A dance work with concept and direction by Jorge M. Crecis and movement devising by Daura Hernández García.

Studio 3, Goldsmiths, University of London

20:15 Drinks in The Green Room Bar, Goldsmiths Student Union

SATURDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2010

09:45-10:15 Registration and check-in open.

Location: Ben Pimlott Building, Ground Floor

Morning Session

Location: Ben Pimlott Theatre

10:15-10:20 Opening remarks

Arabella Stanger, Bodies and Socio-Histories Co-Chair

10:30-10:45 Svea Vikander

PhD Department of Sociology

Concordia University, Montreal

Life Lines: Rupture and Healing in the Personal and Social Body

10:45-10:55 Question and Answer session led by Shanu Sadhwani

11:00-11:15 Toby Dyter

PhD Fine Art Practice

University of Creative Arts

Beyond Pity: Revaluing the Disabled Body after Nietzsche

11:15-11:25 Question and Answer session led by Shanu Sadhwani

11:30-11:45 Mattia Marino

PhD School of Languages

University of Salford

Nietzschean Revaluations of Foucauldian Bodies in Baricco’s Silk and Trier’s Manderlay

11:45-11:55 Question and Answer session led by Shanu Sadhwani

12:00-13:00 Break for Lunch

Afternoon Session

Location: Ben Pimlott Lecture Theatre

13:00-13:15 Arseli Dokumaci

PhD Department of Film, Theatre and TV Studies

Aberystwyth University

Misfires that Matter: Surveying Socio-Histories through the

Physically Disabled Body

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13:15-13:25 Question and Answer session led by Scheherazaad Cooper

13:30-13:45 Anja Bajda

PhD Department of Dramaturgy and Performing Arts

Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television

University of Ljubljana Constrained and Liberated Body: Use and Meanings in Theatrical Space and in the Field of Contemporary Dance in Slovenia

13:45-13:55 Question and Answer session led by Scheherazaad Cooper

14:00-14:15 Rebecca McFadden

PhD Department of Drama

Goldsmiths, University of London The Retreat to the Body: Embodying the Past in Post-Communist Czech Theatre

14:15-14:25 Question and Answer session led by Scheherazaad Cooper

14:30-14:45 Philippa Burt

PhD Department of Drama

Goldsmiths, University of London

‘The actor imagines with his body’: Michael Chekhov’s

Influence on the British Concept of the Performing Body

14:45-14:55 Question and Answer session led by Scheherazaad Cooper

15:00-15:20 Break for coffee, tea and snacks

15:30-15:45 Matt Mahon

PhD School of Politics

Birkbeck, University of London

Embodied Agency and the Production of the Diasporic Political Subject

15:45-15:55 Question and Answer session led by Shanu Sadhwani

16:00-16:15 Seamus Malone

PhD Candidate

London Consortium

Liquid Dancing in the Space of Flows

16:15-16:25 Question and Answer session led by Shanu Sadhwani

16:30-16:45 Arabella Stanger

PhD Department of Drama

Goldsmiths, University of London

Remodelling the Harmonious Body: The Organisation of Space in the danse d’école and Rudolf Laban’s Choreutics

16:45-16:55 Question and Answer session led by Shanu Sadhwani

17:00-18:00 Roundtable discussion

"The body has a dual role of being both a vehicle of perception

and an object perceived." Maurice Merleau-Ponty, (1962)

How does the body hold or describe history both in the individual lived experience and through external observation?

Led by Scheherazaad Cooper, Goldsmiths, University of London

18:00-18:10 Closing Remarks

Shanu Sadhwani, Bodies and Socio-Histories Co-Chair

18:15-23:00 Closing night reception for participants and their guests at Café Crema