Graduate Conference

October 31, 2009
Department of History and Religious Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Recent scholarship in the social sciences and humanities has brought new interest to the study of the body in its anatomical, representational, and abstract forms. The body unifies us as humans, but also serves as the locus and guarantor of difference. Deeply personal, the body stands as a site of edical/scientific, juridical, and political inquiry, intervention, and discipline. The meanings of the body – focused and enhanced by ritual or adornment – resonate far beyond the corporeal self, grounding group as well as individual identity.

Attempts to navigate, manage, and make use of the body’s meanings have given rise to a vocabulary of boundary and limit, which encloses, excludes, and divides, in which the body stands as representative of household, community, nation, or state. Although translated by iscursive and technological means into material reality, no boundary proves impermeable, and the politics of the body, turned to new ends, again opens space for contention, negotiation, and dissent.

The multivalent intersection of the corporeal and metaphorical body troubles existing narratives, and calls upon scholars to think beyond established disciplinary and professional boundaries. This conference is intended as an opportunity to push well-established lines of inquiry into new and fruitful paths. Although graduate students from all disciplines in the humanities and social sciences are invited to participate, we particularly welcome work from history, women’s studies, anthropology, geography, sociology, science and technology studies, and literary studies.

Submissions may be made by email to Anne Brinton at axb944#psu.edu.

Deadlines: Please submit abstracts of up to 500 words by September 7, 2009.

Abstracts should include name, affiliation, and contact information. Notification of acceptance will be made by September 21, 2009, and completed papers must be submitted in early October, 2009.

Financial assistance will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Anne Y. Brinton
Ph.D. Candidate
George and Ann Richards Civil War Era Center
Department of History
The Pennsylvania State University

Source: H-WOMEN@H-NET.MSU.EDU