22 Feb Texts and their Limits: Australia’s Triennial Literary Studies Convention
JULY 20-24, 2021
1st Call for proposals
What is the nature of text – and how do we define where it begins and where it ends? How might such definitions influence the ways in which we read and accord significance to different kinds of textual production? And at a time of political, social and environmental crises, what roles have texts played in the deep cultural divisions we see around us, and what are the possibilities for texts to heal division, discrimination and despair? Are there limits to the social benefits that texts can provide in troubling times?
We seek proposals for papers which address these questions across a broad range of textual disciplines and practices from literary, historical, and cultural studies as well as languages, linguistics, and semiotics. This expressly includes exegetical work within creative arts fields of study. Some possible sub-themes which might be included under Texts and their Limits are:
- Limits around the texts that scholars deem worthy topics for Literary studies.
- The physical and psychodynamic limitations of texts and of the media that carry them.
- Spatial, diachronic, and cultural limits on the distribution and comprehension of texts.
- Ethical and legal limits around the production, reception, and exchange of texts.
- Limits to what is accepted practice in Literary Studies and related fields.
- Limits that bear on the teaching and learning of textual studies.
- Texts negotiating the limits to what is sayable, how, and to what ends.
- …And so much more.
In 2021, the Literary Studies Convention will be a fully digital event. Organisers are still developing the format and platform details. In this 1st CfP, we seek proposals for:
- Individual presentations (15 minute presentations) — please include all presenter names and affiliations, proposed title, and an abstract of up to 200 words.
- Interactive panels or workshops (60 or 90 minute timeslots) — please include all presenter and chair/facilitator names and affiliations, proposed title of the session, and an abstract of up to 600 words. This abstract should include a clear view of the session’s proposed interactive activities.
Please submit your proposals to [email protected]