Begin forwarded message:


From: Asa Mittman <mittman@...>
Date: June 25, 2007 2:15:55 PM EDT
To: David Johnson <djohnson@...>
Subject: Re: Leeds CFP

Hi ISASers (and with apologies for cross-posting):

Below is a CFP for next year's conference at Leeds.  I hope to stir up a
handful of papers (and have a few already) with which to propose multiple
sessions
on the topic.  I've cleared this plan with the organizers, who were very
helpful.  I know that many people are working on aspects of this topic, and
think
it would be great to pull several together at the conference.

Best,
Asa

CFP:  Leeds, 2008:  The Unnatural World

The theme for next year's Leeds is "The Natural World.": 
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/imc/imc2008_call.html

In recent years, a number of scholars have turned their attention to issues
of monstrosity, magic and witchcraft, abnormal geographies, and their
connections with broader medieval culture and discourse.  These subjects are
often
(though not always) viewed as being aberrations, outside of nature.  I therefore
propose a set of sessions on "The Unnatural World," in response to and in
accordance with the year's theme.  There is a stress in the general Leeds CFP on
interdisciplinary work, and so the growing field of "Monster Studies" is a
perfect fit.  Topics might include:  the monstrous races in art and literature,
Sheela-na-gig, theoretical approaches to monstrosity, geographic marginality,
magic, hybridity, unnatural births, borderlands, cannibalism, etc.  Such Others
-- differing in race, species, culture, diet, geography, and so on -- reveal a
great deal about the cultures by which they were created and so form a
powerful locus for theoretical, literary, historical and art historical
investigation.

Please send paper proposals to me (mittman@...) by August 20, so I can
organize submissions into complete sessions for submission.

All the best, in monstrous affection,
Asa
Ps.  Thanks, David.

-- 
"Docere, delectare, movere." - Cicero




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