CFP: International #Conference on The Future of #Masculinities: #Theory and #Praxis-#IIT #Dhanbad- June 2024

 CFP: THE FUTURE OF MASCULINITIES: THEORY & PRAXIS

 

 “Masculinities” refers to the numerous and diverse ways that masculinity is expressed and experienced in various cultural, social, and geographic contexts, as well as the ways it is created, enacted, and understood in response to shifting social, cultural, and economic factors. However, the notion of masculinity is dramatically altering as society drastically alters gender roles, expectations, and standards. The traditional idea of masculinity—one that is marked by traits like stoicism, dominance, and emotional restraint—has been challenged and deconstructed more and more recently. The increased awareness of the negative aspects of traditional masculinity has brought forth a major push for more inclusive and varied definitions of masculinity that accommodate a wider range of gender expressions and behaviours. Moreover, the advancements in gender equality and women’s empowerment will have a major impact on future masculinities. Today the inflexible conceptions of traditional masculinity are being challenged as more and more women achieve success and shatter stereotypes in industries that have traditionally been controlled by men, for instance, mining. In an effort to disprove the idea that men should only be providers and breadwinners, men are taking up roles as nurturers, carers, and partners in domestic activities.

Next, the debate of masculinity has intensified as a result of the growing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. Men of all sexual orientations and gender identities are paving the way for more flexible and inclusive ideas of what it means to be a man by challenging conventional norms and embracing their actual masculinity and displaying it in ways that are congruent with their unique traits.

Furthermore, emotional and mental health of individuals are being reevaluated as the world evolves, which has a significant impact on masculinities. Men are urged to communicate their emotions honestly, cultivate emotional intelligence, and seek treatment for mental health issues. This defies the idea that being vulnerable indicates weakness and fosters more robust, rounded male emotions. In the future, it is likely that we will continue to see the diversification and redefinition of masculinities. Men will have more freedom to express their gender identity and personal preferences without conforming to rigid stereotypes. This evolution may lead to a society where individuals are judged based on their character and values rather than their adherence to traditional gender roles. However, challenges remain: the pressure to conform to traditional masculinity still exists in many parts of the world, and gender inequality persists in various forms. Thus efforts to redefine masculinity must continue to address these issues and promote a more inclusive and equitable society.

The future of masculinities in a changing world is a complex and dynamic subject with numerous cultural, social, and psychological facets. The future of masculinities in a changing world will be defined by a shift away from rigid, traditional norms and towards more inclusive, diverse, and emotionally conscious representations of masculinity. As society continues to evolve, so too will our understanding of gender and the roles and expectations associated with it. The way forward involves challenging harmful stereotypes, advancing gender equality, and fostering a society where men can authentically express their masculinity while respecting the autonomy and diversity of others.

This proposed book volume will examine the debates surrounding masculinities in both the global north and south. It is crucial to examine the scattered hegemonies/ masculinities because the historical world-system is rife with injustices, racism, and colonialism, and because discourses on masculinities that focus on the global north and south fall short in addressing the complexities of masculinities. This book volume will investigate the prominent masculinity constructs of the global north and the south in order to understand how feminism, globalisation, and shifting gender roles have affected masculinities currently and speculate on where masculinities may go in the future. We invite articles that broaden perspectives on the future of masculinities in a changing world. The topics may cover, but are not limited to:

• Masculinity as a concept

• Masculinity vs. biological maleness

• Being a man: a way of life/ a cause/ an idea

• Construction of masculinity/ies in global north & global south

• Impact of colonialism, post-colonialism, cultural diversity, globalization, feminism, and changing gender norms on masculinities

• Masculinities under nationalism

• Case studies from specific regions illustrating shifts in masculinities

• Masculinities & the intersections of race, caste, class, religion, and other factors

• Implications of scattered masculinities for gender equality and social justice

• Inclusive and positive masculinities: role of education, media, and advocacy in reshaping masculinity norms

• Male violence or masculine violence

• Masculinities & Environment

• Female masculinity

• Future masculinities: evolving gender norms & diversity of identities

Deadline for proposals: February 10, 2024

This call for papers is open to scholars, graduate students, and independent researchers from all disciplines. Original submissions reflecting the global spectrum of masculinities are encouraged.

Send a 200 word maximum abstract of your theoretical or empirical research along with a short biographical note to the editors by February 10, 2024. A paper that has been published previously may not be included.

For further questions or to submit your proposal, you can email Debapriya Ganguly (debopriyaganguly6@gmail.com).

Selected abstracts will be notified by the end of February 2024. The deadline for full submissions (6000– 8000 words) is June 2024. The style guide and additional information will be emailed individually to the contributors.

Selected papers (subject to double blind peer review) may appear in an edited volume with a reputed international press.

Editors

Rajni Singh is Professor of English at the Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Dhanbad. Rajni’s research focuses on women’s writings and gender studies, with particular interests in histories of gender, sexuality, and selfhood. rajnisingh18@iitism.ac.in

Debapriya Ganguly is a Doctoral researcher at the Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Dhanbad. Debapriya’s research focuses on masculinities, sexualities and selfhood in popular culture. debopriyaganguly6@gmail.com

CFA:Special issue of Women’s Writing (Taylor & Francis) on Unveiling Untold Narratives: Rediscovering the Literary Legacy of Jewish Female Writers and Representations of Jewish Women by Female Writers from the 1700s to the 1920s

Guest Edited by Irina Rabinovich and Brygida Gasztold

Description: This compilation seeks to shed light on the often-overlooked voices and hidden gems within the vast tapestry of Jewish women’s writing, as crafted by female authors during a transformative period in history.

Delving into the rich and diverse literary landscape spanning the 18th to the early 20th centuries, this special issue aims to rectify the historical oversight of significant contributions made by Jewish women writers. From the Enlightenment era through the Victorian age and into the early waves of feminism, these women defied societal expectations and challenged the status quo, using the power of the written word to articulate their experiences, dreams, and challenges.

One of the primary goals of this special issue is not only to highlight neglected voices but also to critically examine the representations of Jewish women by female writers during this pivotal period. By doing so, we aim to foster a nuanced understanding of how these representations have shaped and been shaped by cultural, social, and historical contexts. Through a careful exploration of the ways in which Jewish women writers portrayed their own identities, as well as the characters they created, we seek to unravel the complexities of gender, religion, and ethnicity in the literary landscape.

This special issue serves as a scholarly platform to reexamine familiar texts and to unearth hidden treasures, fostering a renewed appreciation for the resilience, creativity, and intellectual prowess of Jewish women writers. We aim to challenge conventional literary canons and invite our readers to join us in reevaluating the historical and cultural significance of these works. As we embark on this exploration, “Unveiling Untold Narratives” becomes a catalyst for reshaping our understanding of the literary contributions of Jewish women, both as authors and as the subjects of representation. Join us in this intellectual excavation, as we illuminate the pages that, for too long, have remained in the shadows, and celebrate the voices that deserve their rightful place in the literary canon.

We welcome essays on:

· Periodical Culture

· Poetry

· All types of fiction and non-fiction

We also welcome suggestions for reviews and reviewers for this special issue of the journal.

Please submit 300-400-word abstracts + up to 6 keywords, and a brief biography for consideration to Irina Rabinovich (Holon Institute of Technology, Israel) irener@hit.ac.il and Brygida Gasztold (Koszalin University of Technology, Poland) bgasztold@gmail.com by 28 February 2024. Completed articles are expected to be between 6500­–8000 words and will be due 31 October 2024.

· Contributors should follow the journal’s house style details of which are to be found on the Women’s Writing web site

http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/0999082.asp. This is the new MLA. Do note that instead of footnotes, we use endnotes with NO bibliography. All bibliographical information is included in the endnotes i.e., place of publication, publisher, and date of publication in brackets on first citation of a book.

Call For Articles: Urdu Studies-(ISSN: 2583-8784)

 

Call for Papers

(Vol. 4 Issue 1, 2024)

Urdu Studies (ISSN: 2583-8784) is an online open-access bilingual (Urdu and English) journal bringing together academics, scholars, and researchers engaged in areas of theoretical, comparative, and cultural research and criticism in Urdu language, literature, film, and theatre studies. We focus on original and innovative research and exploration and encourage interdisciplinary studies. We accept translations and book reviews.

We are now accepting submissions for the 2024 issue.

Our Thrust Areas include:

• Postcolonial debates on Urdu language, literature, and culture
• Contemporary Eastern and Western critical theories, and their reception in Urdu
• South Asian cultural and historical studies
• Urdu and contemporary Western scholarship
• Intercultural & Comparative Studies
• Urdu theatre & cinema
• Translation Studies

Note: Urdu Research papers; book reviews; and translations from any language into Urdu; may be emailed to the Chief Editor (hashmiam68@gmail.com). Research papers in English; book reviews; and Urdu-English translations; may be emailed to the Guest Editor (rizvifatima67@gmail.com). Authors are requested to submit research papers/ translations/ book reviews in Urdu or English by 30^th May 2024. They will be notified about acceptance/ revision/ rejection by 30^th June 2024. Revised papers should be emailed by 30^th July 2024. The journal, included in the UGC-CARE List, will be published online in August 2024.

Please visit the following link for the submission guidelines.

https://urdustudies.in/call-for-papers-submission-guidelines/

Contact Information

Arshad Masood Hashmi, Professor, Department of Urdu, jai Prakash University, Chapra 841302 (India) hashmiam68@gmail.com

Fatima Rizvi, Professor, Department of English and Modern European Languages, University of Lucknow 226007 (India) rizvifatima67@gmail.com

Contact Email

hashmiam68@gmail.com

URL

https://urdustudies.in/

CFP: Panel on Family, Memory and Genealogy: Engaging Vernacular Modernities in South Asia on "Modernity Redefined' Conference Gitam University Feb 22-23, 2024

   

 We are organising a panel at the conference 'Modernity Redefined' at Gitam University Bangalore in February 22-23, 2024. This panel looks at ideas of genealogy, memory and family as they refracted through colonial modernity in South Asia. These ideas have been used by various communities for diverse purposes, from imagining a unified political identity, a glorious cultural past and for signifying status differences. A key aspect that lies at the heart of these imaginations is the views of sexual ordering and the reconfiguration of family relationships inaugurated by colonial modernity. Scholars like Kaviraj (2012), Udayakumar (2016) and Arunima (2003) have looked at novels, autobiographies and poetry which acted as discursive accompaniments and great archives of these transformations. Keeping these themes at the background, this panel probes into the ways in which various social groups in colonial South Asia imagined and sought to reformulate their own sense of selves and identities. The panel aims to move into the historical details as well as ethnographic impressions on changes to family histories, memories and genealogies retold from the colonial to post- colonial times in the Vernaculars of South Asia, including both established as well as spoken languages.

Contact Information

Please send a 150 words abstract to P.C. Saidalavi (saidalavi.pc@snu.edu.in) and Shaheen K. (shaheenkt@protonmail.com) by 19 December 2023.

Contact Email

saidalavi.pc@snu.edu.in

CFP: Contemporary Theatres of the Indian Sub-Continent: Perspectives and Prospects-Thespian Magazine(ISSN 2321-4805)

 In the introduction to her edited anthology, Modern Indian Theatre (2009), Nandi Bhatia pointed to the increasing number of critical works devoted to the history and development of modern Indian theatre. Such works, Bhatia argued, were crucial in reconstructing an Indian theatrical past and in dispelling oriental myths about modern Indian theatre. According to Bhatia, “. . . it indicates a growing interest in Indian theatre history and points towards the need for more work that subjects this highly pluralistic diverse field to critical scrutiny” (xii). The first decade of the twenty-first century saw the publication of crucial critical works on the historiography of Indian theatre which included Nandi Bhatia’s Acts of Authority/ Acts of Resistance(2004), Aparna Dharwadker’s monumental Theatres of Independence (2005), Vasudha Dalmia’s Poetics Plays and Performances: The Politics of Modern Indian Theatre (2006) and Erin B Mee’s Theatre of Roots: Redirecting the Modern Indian Stage (2008). Around the same time appeared Syed Jamil Ahmed’s Achinpakhi Infinity (2000), a major work in studying the indigenous theatre traditions of Bangladesh. These signposts have inspired theatre scholarship in diverse fields in the next decade leading to works that have addressed the plurality of theatre in the Indian sub-continent. The richness of theatrical and performative forms in the Indian sub-continent have expanded considerably in the contemporary times, manifesting a plural and vibrant theatrical culture that awaits further interpretation. 

While contemporary theatres and performances in the Indian sub-continent have been exploring the proscenium space in diverse ways, they have also moved out of the proscenium into alternative spaces, into the experimental realms of installation art and performance. These have resulted in greater engagement with immersive, intimate and interactive theatre practices where the ‘fourth wall’ has come down and the audience have been immersed into the play itself. What have been the ways in which audience reception has transformed in new experimental performance forms? How have contemporary theatres explored the proscenium space? How has alternative theatre spaces emerged? Did the widespread pandemic of Covid-19 foster the search for new spaces of performance? What emergent social and political issues are being addressed by the contemporary theatres? How ‘political’ is today’s theatre? How far do marginalised groups represent themselves and/or are being represented in contemporary theatre? How have the legacies of traditional and classical theatre been carried on in contemporary theatres? How far can the theatre discourse centring around Natyasastra be applied as a critical/theoretical context in today’s theatre? What are our theatrical ‘futures’ and ‘prospects’?                     

Premised on the above thoughts and questions, the proposed title invites scholarly articles on various issues related to contemporary theatre and performance in the Indian sub-continent. While we consider the phenomenon of performance as an inclusive concept ranging from daily life’s performance observations through indigenous tradition and classical to avant-garde initiatives, there are innumerable areas to be explored in the realm of the sub-continental performance tradition with the support of diverse theoretical tools from Natyasastra to recent theories. Once we see theatre and performance as a product of social process and its craft as a product of extensive enquiries to discover new expressive idioms, immense potential for further research and enquiry emerges. The frequent crossover of Indian theatre with various international criticism and streams of writing from the second half of the twentieth century onwards has also considerably impacted the contemporary scenario, which is a subject of intensive study. The call for papers and articles thus aims to address the plurality of Indian Sub-Continental theatre and drama, and its multiple streams that have variously contributed to the rich repository of Indian Sub-Continental performance practices.

 

Papers are invited (but not limited to) the following sub themes/ topics:

• Current trends in research on Indian Sub-Continental theatre, performance and drama
• Historiography and Post-Independence Indian theatre and drama
• Women in the theatre, performance and drama of the Indian sub-continent
• Queer identities in the theatre and drama of the Indian sub-continent
• Gender inclusivity in the theatre and drama of the Indian sub-continent
• Theatres of Protest
• Theatre In Education
• Political theatre
• Theatres of Alternative spaces: Immersive, interactive and intimate theatre experiences
• Relevance of Indigenous performance practices in Contemporary Theatre
• Beliefs and motifs of Tribal theatrical traditions and its relevance in contemporary practices  
• Urban-Folk theatre
• Theatres of Ritual/Ritual Theatre
• Covid-19 and the theatre and drama of the Indian sub-continent
• Theatre of Roots
• Environmental theatre
• Theatre from the Margins
• Contemporary Indian theatre and Drama
• Post-Independence Indian theatre and Pedagogy
• Regional theatre and criticism
• Playwrights and Theatre Directors of the Indian sub-continent.
• Wide practices of Amateur Theatre/Mobile Theatre in the Sub-Continent

 

Full articles within 5000 words (approx.) conforming to the latest MLA style guidelines should be sent along with a short bio-note (within 250 words) to thespian.articles@gmail.com.

Last Date of Submission

20 December 2023

 

For details, please strictly follow the guidelines provided on the website.

http://www.thespianmagazine.com/guidelines

 

Work Cited

Bhatia, Nandi, editor. Modern Indian Theatre: A Reader. Oxford UP, 2009.  

International #Conference on Endangered #Folk #Literarture and Culture of Jetor and other Indian #Indigenous #Communities: Documentation, Department of English, Vidyasagar University Digitalization, and Translation in the Global Context-

Every community craves a sense of identity in this world, and continuity with the cultural past. This is more so with the communities whose language, literature and culture are on the verge of extinction on account of multiple factors. Literature and culture can offer indigenous communities a sense of belonging and promote social cohesion, respect for diversity, human creativity as well as help people connect with each other. Hence, the call to preserve endangered folk cultural heritage of communities such as the Jetor, an indigenous nomadic community of Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram settled on the edges of Kangsabati and Subarnarekha. UNESCO has declared 2022-2032 as the decade of indigenous languages. In the global context, many countries are making concerted efforts to encourage and support measures to safeguard and transmit the cultural heritage of indigenous communities. Various government institutions (for example, the ICSSR, Sahitya Akademi, and Sangeet Natok Akademi in India), groups, individuals, NGOs, researchers and scholars are engaged in strengthening, protecting, preserving and promoting the tangible and intangible folk cultural heritage. In this context of extinction and vulnerability documentation, digitization, and translation can play a pivotal role.

Documentation of manuscripts, songbooks and performances along with their preservation in community centres, archives, museums or libraries for consultation, leads to meaningful research in the field of Cultural Studies. Digitization, the creation and sharing of computer-processed materials in the forms of texts, databases, etc., is one of the vital means of preserving endangered indigenous cultural heritage. UNESCO has been stressing the conversion of the existing analogue cultural resources into digital form and preservation of indigenous cultural heritage through digitization. Digitization of ‘endangered’ indigenous folk cultural heritage in its original form and language is a crying need as the communities and their languages carrying the legacy of those cultures are fast going extinct. In the 1980s Translation witnessed a cultural turn and since then translation is being used as a significant tool not only to expose asymmetrical power relations between the cultures negotiated in translation but also in charting cultural histories of indigenous communities among others. Documentation, digitization, and translation are vital to the Indian context as many of the languages spoken by the scheduled and non-scheduled people, Adivasi people, and nomadic people are critically endangered.

The Conference purports to create an important opportunity for researchers, scholars, teachers, policymakers, and indigenous people to engage with and contribute to the discourse of documentation, digitization and translation in the context of indigenous cultural studies with a view to safeguarding, helping to grow and transmitting endangered cultural heritage. The Conference focuses on but is not limited to the following sub-themes:

• Identity and well-being of endangered communities vis-à-vis cultural heritage

• Endangered cultural heritage vis-à-vis international cooperation and assistance

• Endangered cultural heritage, sustainable development and cultural diversity

• Endangered cultural heritage and global awareness building

• Documentation, Digitization, and Translation vis-à-vis the role of performance

• Perspectives on Indigeneity and endangered languages of the world vis-à-vis documentation, digitization, and translation

• Theories and practices of documentation, digitization, and translation

Abstracts with the following specifications on the themes of the Conference are invited for presentation at the Conference (blended mode). We have a plan to publish an edited volume comprising select papers (either from the ICSSR publication division or from a publishing house of repute). However, since the Conference is part of an ICSSR Project, the matter regarding the publication of an edited volume is subject to the approval of the ICSSR authorities, and nothing can be committed in this regard until permission is obtained.

Last Date of submission of Abstract: 10.12.2023

• Word limit for Abstract: 250-300 words

• Notification of the acceptance of Abstracts: 15.12.2023

• Mail ID for Abstract Submission: vuicssr.int.conference@gmail.com

Registration

•

Last Date of Registration: 18.12.2023

• Link for Registration (only participants): https://forms.gle/2ZXiqeKhMwZSY1uS6

• Registration Fees for Paper Presentation: 1500/-

• Registration Fees for ParticipationTeachers/Academician/Scholars: 500/-

• Paper Presenters from Abroad: 30 USD

• No accommodation will be provided.

Payment Options:

• NEFT/IMPS: Name of the Account Holder: NANDINI SAHA (JRF Research Scholar of the Department of English, Vidyasagar University), Account No.: 6295403340, IFSC: IDIB000M037 Bank Name: Indian Bank, Midnapore Branch. • Pay/Phone Pe / Paytm no: 9474672329 (NANDINI SAHA)

Contact:

• Aishwarya Banerjee – 7003229321

• Nandini Saha - 8250024775

Call For Papers: #Virtual #Conference with Publication -International Conference on Indian Arts and Literature-2024

(March 9- 10, 2024)

Organized by

Aesthetix Journal of Indian Studies

In Collaboration With

California Institute of Integral Studies, USA

Government Brajalal College, Bangladesh

Venue: Virtual

Online Platform: ZOOM

Key Features

• Open Access

• Double-Blind Peer Review

• Plagiarism Check

• Systematic Archival and Preservation

• Standard Publication

• Aims and Scope of the Conference

Theme of the Conference

The rich heritage of Indian Arts and Literature from the prehistoric age to the present era is engraved on the geography and cultural landscape in entire South Asia and South-East Asia and it has influenced scholars from around the world as is evident from the scholarly contributions from well-known scholars like Max Muller and Sir William Jones to the contemporary scholars. However, the long duration of colonial rule infused an inferiority complex among the scholars back home, they stayed away from significant research, and Western Classics dominated Indian academic spaces. The First Aesthetix International Conference is aimed at motivating Indian academicians and scholars to take interest in the Indian Arts and Literature and take up research in this henceforth-neglected area. It is also aimed at providing a platform for interaction among the Indian Scholars and the International Scholars working in the field of Indology. The Conference invites original, unpublished research articles and scholarly papers from teachers, professionals, research scholars, independent researchers, and students studying at the postgraduate level on the following areas, but not limited to:

• Indian Classical Literature
• Indian Classical Theory
• Sanskrit Aesthetics
• Tamil Literature
• Shavite Literature
• Vaishnavite Literature
• Indian Architecture
• Indian Fine Arts
• Pali Literature
• Prakrit Literature
• Interdisciplinary Studies of Indian Arts and Literature
• Indigenous Arts and Literature of India
• Indian Theatre and Performances
• Paintings of India
• Literature and other Art forms in contemporary India

Important Dates

Conference Date: March 9-10, 2024

CFP opens: 5th December 2023

Abstract/ Full Paper Submission closes: December 25, 2024

Notification of Acceptance: 5th January, 2024

Full Paper Submission Deadline: 20th February 2024

Registration Period: 20th – 27th February, 2024

Publication of proceedings: The publication will start in June 2024 in Continuous Mode.

Registration Fee + Publication Fee: Rs 1000 (India). Foreign: USD 30

(Entire proceedings to be published in the Aesthetix Journal of Indian Studies)

Author’s Guidelines

Submit the abstract of your paper in about 200-300 words (Times New Roman, 12) with 5-6 Keywords. Use a separate attachment for this and do not include any personal data for double-blind peer review,

Include your personal details (name, affiliation, address, phone number, email id) in the body of the email.

Once your abstract is accepted you must submit the full paper before the last date for submission of full paper.

Finally, after the conference, you will have to submit full-length papers. Use the same email and do not use separate emails.

Articles should be written in an MS Word file following the latest edition of MLA style

Word Limits for the full paper: 3000-4500 words

Authors’ bio-note of around 50-60 words should be added at the end of the draft/full paper.

Send your scholarly articles to editor@indianstudies.net

Contact Information

For any query contact the Managing Editor at editor [AT] indianstudies.net or our WhatsApp no. +91-7047598085

Contact Email

editor@indianstudies.net

URL

http://www.indianstudies.net/aesthetix-conference/