CALL FOR PAPERS
Faculty ofHuman and Social Sciences
University ofTunis--Tunisia
8th English Department Conference
Norms ofTransgression
December 3-4,2009
Systems function generically by constructing and stratifyingconceptual categories. In order to be effective, systems need to bedeeply-anchored and well-connected to highly conservative discoursecommunities, whose function is to consolidate them so as to ensure their governingimpact on social and cultural members. As constructs, then, beforegenres/concepts are normalized, the process takes some time. In recent years, however, globalinstitutional normalizing strategies have been met with an iron will oftransgression. Trust and confidence in ‘order', ‘system', ‘law', ‘rules',‘norms' and ‘values' have been weakened. Yet, ‘transgression' as ‘excess', as amove beyond the limit, is much more demanding. What are the conditions of possibletransgressions, of the possibility of transgression? Does the reflexive character of transgressionallow for transformation, Or isn't it no more than the threshold that leads tothe construction of a new wor(l)d order, law, norm, which is but the mirror,the echo of the old one? Istransgression really refractory or is it complicit with the status quo? Ratherthan being dichotomies, do not norms and their transgression complete eachother? Our conference seeks to address akey issue in this respect, in that transgression might not be merely whatbreaks the rule, the limit, the boundary. Couldn't it rather be the other side of whatis being transcended?
We are soliciting theoretical, historical, and criticalcontributions in the fields of linguistics and literature that examine theissue of ‘norms of transgression'. Areasof inquiry might include the following:
· Isn't transgressionbut a step in the evolution of textual norms, or the maturation of newgenres ?
· Is transgressionpossible without relying partly on previous norms ?
· Is transgressionpossible in the absence of norms/paradigms ?
· Isn't transgressiona natural response to changes in the conditions which sustain prevailingnorms ?
· Is transgressionpossible at all ? Is novelty possible ? Aren't we speaking the same world with the same words?
Abstractguidelines and submissions:
Thedeadline for abstract submission is August 29, 2009. The proposalshould include:
1. name of author(s), affiliation, telephone/fax/e-mailaddress
2. title of submission
3. anabstract of no more than 200 words
Submissions by e-mail should be sent to theconveners:
Dr.Tahar Labassi: tahar_labassi@yahoo.fr
Dr.Abdennebi Ben Beya: babdenn@yahoo.fr
The allocated time for delivery is 25minutes followed by a brief discussion.
The Conference steering committee will notifyacceptance by e-mail at thelatest by September 26, 2009.
Fullpaper submission for publication in conference proceedings:
Authors of accepted abstracts agreeto submit, upon arrival, full papers on a CD in word format, together with a hard copy, for publication.The style sheet will be mailed to participants whose abstracts are accepted.
Date/ Venue and Accommodation:
Theconference will take place on December3-4, 2009. The venue of the conferencewill be The Faculty of Humanand Social Sciences of Tunis,University of Tunis, Tunisia.For details concerning accommodation (overseas participants), please contactthe conferenceorganizers.
Dr.Tahar Labassi: tahar_labassi@yahoo.fr
Dr.Abdennebi Ben Beya: babdenn@yahoo.fr