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Wednesday, January 3, 2024

CFP: 10th Annual National RAW.Conference on COMPARATIVE LITERATURE: PERSPECTIVES, PRACTICES, POSITIONS: 5th – 7th March 2024 University of Hyderabad


Centre for Comparative Literature

School of Humanities University of Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Telangana – 500046, India



CALL FOR PAPERS


“We all know that the word ‘method’ is eventually derived from the Greek ‘methodos’ which again is derived from ‘meta’ meaning ‘after’ and ‘hodos’ meaning ‘way’. If method is moving after a way, then it must have been arrived at after moving wayward for some time.” 

-Amiya Dev, “Comparative Literature from Below”, JJCL 29


Comparative literature is a way of reading literature. Literature is the object of study and the method is ‘comparative’. This begs questions like: what does a comparative reading entail? Why should we study literature comparatively? And most importantly, how do we do a comparative reading? These questions have been raised time and again at different locations, both by people within and outside the discipline and various answers have been offered. Historically, different ‘schools’ of comparative literature (the French school, the Russian school, the German school et al.) have conceptualized the method of comparison in different ways. If we look at comparative literature as a situated interpretive practice (as opposed to a theory or body of works), the question of (spatio-temporal and cultural) location becomes very important. Given our location in the plurilingual and pluricultural society of India, where living with plurality and difference is part of our quotidian reality, can we think of an Indian way of doing comparative literature founded upon plurality, relationality and an ethical engagement with difference?


Given the nature of literature which is marked by the singularity of each ‘text’ and its irreducible difference from another of its kind, how do we conceptualize a comparative method that is sensitive to this fact? Our method should follow a  “from below” (Amiya Dev) approach which modifies itself according to the literary data and does not tweak data to fit the method and creates an open and inclusive discourse. Such an approach makes comparative literature a willing and ethical engagement with alterity and difference aimed at understanding the Other. Our textual practices of reading, writing and interpretation are aimed at understanding the process of textualization, its production and reception, in order to access through literature what Simone de Beauvoir calls a “taste of another life”. These acts of conscious and reflective reading taking into account the ontological plurality, relationality and living with alterity which are conditions of our being, we believe, are fundamental to comparative literature as a practice across the world.  


Apart from this, what else can we say, if anything, in general about our research method  given that each literary text is singular and hence, each engagement with it is unique? What are the essential characteristics our method must have so that we don’t move too wayward and invite charges of dilettantism that is often levelled against our discipline? Given the history of the discipline which has been beset by a number of crises, even pronouncements of death, calls for dissolution into other disciplines which are often from the Anglo-Saxon academia, how should the comparative method be applied, especially in the Indian academia, to different areas of research and assert its vitality and relevance for a location like ours? What makes our practice different from that of other disciplines like English studies, cultural studies, translation studies, area studies etc.? What is the relationship of comparative practice with theory? How do we negotiate with categories that are often used for the study of literature such as those based on region (South Asia, the Global South, the ‘third world’, regional language literatures, the Commonwealth, the nation), history (the post-colonial, industrial modernity) or identity (based on caste, class, race, gender, sexuality, religion,  and other theories of marginalization)? What are the ethics and aesthetics of our engagement with alterity and plurality? Can we interrogate received categories and ideas of comparison and construct a method for research that is suitable to study our lived realities? This conference is an attempt to bring fellow comparatists together to reflect on these questions and clarify for ourselves and “others” the relevance of comparative literature methodology for literary studies today, in India and elsewhere and share our insights and ideas from the point of view of our own practice of comparative literature.


We invite papers that engage with, but not limited to, the following themes:

  • Literary historiography, genology and thematology: Integrated approaches

  • Comparative poetics: Sanskrit, Tamil, Greek, Perso-Arabic et al.

  • Literature and other arts: relations and intermediality

  • Reception aesthetics and reception history

  • Organic plurality of Indian languages: implications for literary studies

  • Literary movements and movements of literatures

  • Otherness and difference: encounters, engagements and ethics

  • Literary relations: interliterariness, contact and literary transactions

  • India as a site for comparative literature

  • Comics and graphic narratives

  • Spatiality, temporality, chronotope, heterotopia

  • Affective and existential and experiential/phenomenological categories for literary studies

  • Canons: making, unmaking and beyond

  • Dismantling hierarchies in differences

  • Aesthetics: poetics and politics

  • Identity and difference: comparative perspectives vis-à-vis literature

  • Disability as difference

  • Discourses of identity and comparative literature: caste, class, race, religion,  gender, sexuality, marginality 

  • Virtuality and literariness: new forms and modes of writing

  • Orality, oratures, oral and performance traditions

  • Narratology, narrativization and narratives of the other/ othered narratives


We expect the papers to deal with the practical aspects of Comparative Literature and demonstrate how the comparative approach shapes their actual practice of engaging with and reading literary and cultural texts, practices and phenomena. In other words, we expect to see the application of the comparative approach in reading of particular ‘texts’ in the papers and not just an exploration of theoretical ideas. Research scholars working in any discipline, particularly those working in literary studies in any language from a comparative perspective, are encouraged to send in their abstracts. Language of presentation will be English only due to logistical reasons. 





Abstracts of about 300 words with a title and 5-6 keywords may be uploaded to https://forms.gle/dwt7tKGxgnWiJTLeA  by  25th January 2024.

RAW.Con or Researchers at Work Conference is an annual offline event organized by the students of the Centre for Comparative Literature (CCL) at the University of Hyderabad. The conference is open to students who have registered for Ph.D. or aspiring PhD scholars (a few slots are available for MA students). As per practice, some of the eminent scholars will also be invited as resource persons for the conference. Candidates whose abstracts have been selected will be informed by 10th  February 2024. If your abstract is accepted after review, you will be required to email the full paper by 24th February 2024. Selected paper presenters will be provided bed and board, and often train fare as well, if the budget allows.


Organizing Team: 

Asit Kumar Biswal 

Jomina C. George 

R. Lalhriatpuii


Call For Chapters are invited on #Dalit History and #Literature



Concept Note:

Dalit History and Literature offer a unique and critical perspective on the marginalized communities in India. The struggle, resilience, and creative expression of the Dalit community have generated a rich tapestry of narratives, making it imperative to explore this literary and historical treasure trove. The proposed book, Voices of Resilience: Exploring Dalit History and Literature, aims to be a comprehensive collection of articles delving into the rich tapestry of Dalit history and Dalit literature. This edited volume seeks to bring together scholars and experts from the History and English literature domain to offer multifaceted insights into the unique cultural, social, and literary heritage of the Dalit community in India. This book is an attempt to bridge the gap in our understanding of Dalit History and Literature by providing a platform for critical analysis, interpretation, and exploration. It will serve as a reference work for students, scholars, and anyone interested in Dalit scholarship.


THEMES IN DALIT HISTORY:
History of the origin and development of Dalit discourse
Society, Caste & Dalits through the ages in Indian History
History of discrimination and exclusion
Dalit Movements in Modern Indian History
Socio-political ideology and contribution of Major reformers & thinkers

THEMES IN DALIT LITERATURE:
Biographical analyses: Dalit autobiographical narratives and memoirs
Analyses of Unique poetic forms and aesthetics in Dalit poetry
Contribution of Dalit literature in social and political change
Diversity of Dalit literature in regional languages
Recurring motifs, issues, and social struggles in Dalit literature
Comparative studies between Dalit literature and mainstream literature.



Initial Guidelines:
An abstract of 300 words (5-6 keywords and 100 words brief-bio of author) is invited on the mentioned (or relevant) themes. The selected abstracts will be shortlisted after review and the Authors will be informed of the full paper (3000-3500 words) submission as per guidelines.
File type: MS Word/ Times New Roman – 12 Font size – 1.5 spaced – one-inch margin on all sides
Title of the Chapter: Times New Roman – 16 font-size - bold – centre aligned.
Author name –14 font size – centre aligned.
Author details (Designation, University/College affiliation, email, State/Province, Country) –11 size – centre aligned.
An article processing charge (APC) of INR 1000 [for international scholars -USD 25] will be charged for the final accepted papers (this includes one hard copy of the book along with postal charges)

DEADLINES:

Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 Jan. 2024

Abstract Acceptance Notice: 30 Jan. 2024

Full chapter Submission Deadline: 30 April 2024

Peer Review and Revision: 15 June 2024

Expected book release: 15 Aug. 2024

Note: The book will be published with ISBN no. by a National publisher (India).




Editorial Team

CFP: International Graduate Conference: #Protecting Our #Education, #Protecting Our #Futures- University of #Cincinnati -March 1, 2024

 





According to CRT Forward, a tracking project initiative created by the UCLA School of Law’s Critical Race Studies Program that “provides a comprehensive examination of anti-CRT measures limiting teaching, curricula, trainings, access to certain texts and books, and policy alterations,” there are at least 750 anti-critical race theory (anti-CRT) measures in play across the country. Similarly, The Chronicle of Higher Education’s DEI Legislation Tracker is following 40 bills that prohibit a variety of pro-DEI activities and initiatives.These varying legislative measures have been devised at every level of governance, from local school boards to city and state governments. However, despite the wide geographical and legislative range, these measures all share a common aim: to restrict educational institutions’ control over what will be taught and who will teach it.

Such political and legislative pressures make up just one facet of what is a more widespread concern among administrators, educators, and students: liberal arts educational values are under threat. While such a truth is by no means new, today’s task of protecting educational access, freedom, and control is uniquely contextualized by, among other considerations, unprecedented political realities, evolving AI technologies, and persistent social and cultural upheaval. It is this unique moment that inspires the theme for this year’s University of Cincinnati Graduate Student Conference: Protecting Our Education, Protecting Our Futures.

We aim for this conference to be truly interdisciplinary. Thus, we envision presenters from a variety of backgrounds and representing a range of approaches speaking to this theme by sharing research that highlights issues—from a global to a local scale—which pose a threat to the values of education. In highlighting these issues, we hope that presenters will also offer their ideas for ways to manage these threats, or even turn them into opportunities for learning. While we encourage a wide application of this theme, some possible topics include:

  • DEI initiatives in educational spaces
  • Labor conditions in educational spaces
  • Un/Ethical AI use in educational spaces
  • Non-/Violence in/around educational spaces
  • The value of a liberal arts education
  • Social justice pedagogy and educational practices
  • Activist literacies, rhetorics, or pedagogies related to disability, antiracism, economic justice, linguistic justice, gender, and/or sexuality
  • Public protest ideologies, histories, or materialities
  • Political rhetorics

Does this spark an idea? Share it with us! Please submit individual proposals of up to 250 words or panel proposals of no more than 500 words to UCGradConf2024@gmail.com by January 12, 2024. With your proposal, please also include your name, your university affiliation, your department affiliation, and the title of your presentation. For panel presentations, please designate different speakers by number and include the title of the presentation for each speaker. Each session will be an hour and 15 minutes long, with an average presentation time of 15 minutes. Alternative (multimodal, interactive, etc.) presentations are welcome.

Some good-to-know info: There is no registration fee for this conference. Not only that, lunch and other light refreshments will be provided. We know these are important considerations for graduate students! 


Conference Date: Friday, March 1, 2024

Conference Location: University of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, Ohio

Conference Website: https://ucgradconference2024.weebly.com/

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

CFP: Free #Virtual International #Conference on #Capitalism and #Literature -Istanbul Topkapi University- May 10-11, 2024.

 Call for Papers

            Capitalism has developed historically out of systems of feudalism and mercantilism in Europe, and dramatically expanded industrialization and the large-scale availability of mass-market consumer goods. Capitalist industrialization has led to the expansion of wage labour, grand-scale bureaucratization and increasing rationalization of the everyday life. The most distinguishing feature--in fact, the intrinsic rationale of capitalism—is, however, the relentless urge to make profit. As Adam Smith, the 18th century philosopher and father of modern economics, said: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.” Smith points to the fact that butcher, brewer, baker, and their customers participate in a voluntary exchange transaction and have their own interest in the outcome. The exchange transaction takes place only and only if neither can obtain what they want without addressing what the other wants. The theorists of capitalism have always advocated that it is this rational self-interest that leads nations to economic prosperity. Studying literary works in conjunction with capitalism may enable us to discern literary take on the rational self-interest and desire for prosperity; the relationship between rational and acquisitive aspects of capitalism; the ways in which capitalist urge for profit governs human behavior; economic and social inequalities produced by such urge; capitalist exploitation and working class.

            Literary criticism provides theoretical contexts and discursive tools through which we may evaluate literary perceptions of the workings of capitalism and the ways in which literary texts engage with social reality governed by pure self-interest. A consideration of the critical perspectives further helps us investigate the literary representations of the identities and values shaped by capitalism. The engagements of literature with the political, psychological, and social consequences of capitalism have produced illustrious representations of alienation and disenchantment. Literary works have provided unique perspectives on the rationalization of everyday life, the psychology of consumption, and many other ethical issues relating to the tension between economic self-interest and basic human values. Such issues may be considered in critical addresses to literature and capitalism. We, therefore, invite critical inquiries into literary perspectives on capitalism and those who are interested in presenting their research at the 2024 Topkapi University Literature and Capitalism Conference. The scope of our conference is inclusive and is open to all research that contributes to the ongoing discussions of

  • Capitalism and class conflict
  • Anti-capitalism
  • Reification
  • Alienation
  • Social corruption
  • Exploitation of the working class
  • Working class movements
  • Exploitation of women
  • Marxism and literature
  • Social realism
  • Capitalism and war
  • Late capitalism and postmodern literature
  • Capitalism and ecological issues
  • Capitalism, technology and posthumanism

 

Research with a focus on the socio-political and psychological repercussions of globalization and neoliberalism is especially welcome. 

Abstract Submissions

Please submit an abstract, not exceeding 250 words, by March 11, 2024, to literaryconference@topkapi.edu.tr. Ensure to include the author’s full name and a concise biographical note (30 words or less) in your submission.

The event is scheduled to take place entirely online on May 10-11, 2024.

Attendance is free of charge for all participants.

https://t-litcon.topkapi.edu.tr/

Monday, January 1, 2024

CFP: Young Scholars' 2024 Conference Panel - Representations of Animal Bodies and the More-than-Human World

 



This online panel is being organized for the upcoming hybrid Young Scholars’ Conference on “Legal bodies, embodied subjects: (re)contextualisations of physicality.” Please note that the conference will be held in CET time zone. As such, the panel, while entirely online, will also adhere to CET time zone.

The animal body is integral to discussions of the human body. Out of the Victorian period, for instance, came Darwin’s The Descent of Man that challenged conceptions pertaining to the divide between humans and animals and ideals that enforced the superiority of humankind over “lesser” creatures. In other words, out of the Victorian period came an ever-pressing conceptualization of humankind that no longer vastly distinguished the human body from the animal body. Working in tandem with the conference’s focus on bodies and embodied subjects, this panel, titled “Representations of Animal Bodies and the More-than-Human World," seeks to foreground non-human animal bodies as its object of focus in order to destabilize an otherwise anthropocentrically narrowed viewpoint on bodies, one that excludes our non-human animal counterparts.

Ultimately, this panel seeks to reimagine the ways in which representations of animals in Victorian literature contributed to and/or challenged sentiments surrounding animal welfare and animal rights. Specifically, we ask that papers consider various types of literature (i.e., children’s literature, animal autobiography, realism, gothic literature, etc.) published during the nineteenth century in relation to expressions and representations of animals and their bodies that portray them as marginalized ‘others’ or, according to Carol J. Adams in The Sexual Politics of Meat, “absent referents.”

Papers may consider (but are not limited to) the following topics:

  • vivisection;
  • definitions of cruelty as depicted in women’s writing on animals;
  • sympathy and care towards animals;
  • animal welfare and animal rights;
  • studies on pets, working animals, and/or wild animals;
  • talking animals/anthropomorphism in children’s literature or literature marketed towards children;
  • taxidermy;
  • monstrous ‘others’, blurring of human-animal.

We welcome proposals for papers 15-20 minutes long on any of the topics above. Please send proposals of no more than 200-300 words, the title of the paper, your time zone, and a brief (30-50 word) biography to Liayana Jondy (18lj9@queensu.ca). If you have any questions about the panel, please feel free to reach out via email.

Deadline for proposals: January 24th, 2024



Liayana Jondy

Saturday, December 30, 2023

CALL FOR PAPERS : #Environmental #activism, #Decoloniality and #Literature of the Global #South - #Springer, #Duke #University #Press, #Cambridge #University Press







Goutam Karmakar, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa

Sule Emmanuel Egya,  Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Nigeria

The frequently discussed topics of environmental degradation, increasing issues with climate change, and planetary hazards in modern times can be traced back to the historical contexts of colonialism and capitalism. Within the framework of colonialism, which flourished due to the dominant circumstances surrounding capital's production (O’connor, 1994, p. 8), the environmental domain became structured only within the context of commodification. The civilizational aims of colonialism considered the ecological world as an inorganic and immaterial entity, functioning solely to supply affordable raw materials and serve as territories for colonial ‘markets’ (Krishnaswami, 1992, p. 81). The widespread impact of the epistemology of Western modernity, which promotes Eurocentric interpretations of capitalist advancement, has resulted in the implementation of an objectifying ethical framework. This framework has led to the systematic disintegration of the interconnectedness between humans and nature, as well as the marginalization of indigenous epistemic structures that prioritize the importance of the natural world and its integral role in the interconnectedness of all life forms. The exploitation and destruction of nature and ecosystems have occurred within the framework of colonial capitalism, where the subjugation of the “savage state of nature” (Simpson, 2020, p. 58) has been a notable characteristic of European civilization, with a ‘rationale’ that this process has been seen as essential for the progress of both the economy and culture. Thus, the prevalence of exploitation, extraction, and commercialization was pervasive throughout settler colonies and countries of the Global South (Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania) during the era of European colonization, leading to the exacerbation of severe forms of colonial ecological violence.

Given this context, it is edifying to delve into the discussion surrounding the notion of the "Anthropocene." This term refers to the period starting in the nineteenth century when human activity began to exert significant influence on the ecosystems of the planet, leading to detrimental effects. The concept of the Anthropocene, often known as the "age of the humans," as explained by Crutzen and Stoemer (2000, p. 12), may primarily be attributed to the First Industrial Revolution. The advent of industrialization, the emission of greenhouse gases, and the extensive utilization of coal throughout this period disrupted the equilibrium of the ecosystem, leading to a steady deterioration of the planet across various dimensions. It is the indigenous communities and individuals residing in rural and socioeconomically poor regions of the Global South who are disproportionately affected and suffer the most severe consequences, like facing environmental hazards, living with environmental toxicity, and climate-induced migration. According to a 2018 report published by the World Bank Group, failure to carefully consider and implement appropriate measures to address climate degradation could result in the displacement of millions of individuals in developing regions such as the Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America within the next two decades. In many cases, these communities experience ‘climate colonialism,’ which denotes the utilization of resources and authority by countries in the Global North when addressing climate change, environmental regulations, and ‘climate apartheid’ (Bandera, 2022) which pertains to the inequitable impact of climate change on affluent and non-affluent individuals and nations.

Indigenous and marginalized communities worldwide, along with youth climate leaders and activists from various countries including Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, India, Peru, Senegal, Togo, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Namibia, the Philippines, and the Marshall Islands, among others, engage in open discussion with those in power, sharing their narratives and advocating for epistemic, economic, racial, and environmental justice. Individuals residing in the Global South, encompassing regions such as Argentina, Asia, and Africa, are urging others worldwide to participate in a collective global endeavour aimed at advocating for equitable climate change policies. Initiatives such as the 'Debt for Climate!' programme, round-table discussions and summits focusing on the intersection of environment and development, as well as various environmental movements within countries of the Global South, serve as evidence that activists from these regions are dedicated to addressing environmental injustice and the climate crisis through the perspective of human rights. This symbolizes how this commitment persists despite the considerable challenges that lie ahead. While these instances of ‘collective action and environmental activism’ (Lubell, 2002) deserve greater attention, public intellectuals and writers from nations in the Global South endeavour to raise awareness about these matters through their literary works, public lectures, and academic involvements. In particular, writers have, through the instrument of literary aesthetics, historicized ideas, practices, and incidents of environmental activism, resulting to a growing archive of decolonial literary discourse in the Global South.

The critical cognitive necessity of our current era includes the exploration of the archive of literary discourse from the Global South that addresses issues such as environmental racism, injustice, extraction, toxicity, the climate crisis, colonial ecological violence, and forced migration resulting from climate catastrophes. This exploration seeks to situate the deterioration of the environment in relation to social and epistemological inequities. Furthermore, it promotes the adoption of decolonial ecological praxis as a means to effectively address and combat these pressing issues. Within this particular framework, literary narratives serve as a means of actively engaging with the environment, while decolonial ecological practices seek to restore neglected indigenous knowledge systems, foster diverse initiatives aimed at mitigating global ecological challenges (Ferdinand, 2022, p. 175), and cultivate a sense of "collective ethics" (Serres, 1995, p. 78) in response to the vulnerability of our world.

This volume aims to examine the interconnectedness of environmental activism and decoloniality within the context of literature from the Global South. It seeks to challenge the dominant knowledge systems imposed by Western powers and capitalist interests while also recognizing the diverse and multiple forms of ecological knowledge. By doing so, this volume would promote a collective and sustainable approach to planetary survival, and we invite chapter proposals that address the following (but not limited to) issues in respect to the literature of the Global South:

  • Environmental activism and decoloniality
  • Activism and sustainability
  • Environmental ethics and planetarity
  • Subaltern environmentalism and decoloniality
  • Extractive ecologies and decoloniality
  • Decolonizing eco-imaginations of the Global South
  • Decolonial ecologies and indigenous knowledge systems
  • Colonial ecological violence and activism
  • Environmental activism and (in)justice
  • Eco-precarity and decoloniality
  • Environmental activism and human values
  • Climate change and decoloniality
  • The coloniality of Anthropocene
  • Decolonial marine ecology

We solicit abstract/chapter proposal of 400 words along with a bio-note of 50 words in a single MS Word file, which should be submitted by February 15, 2024 to goutamkrmkr@gmail.com and  seegya@ibbu.edu.ng 

We are in contact with Springer, Duke University Press, and Cambridge University Press regarding the publication of this volume.