Call For Papers

PREOCCUPIED: The Words, Wounds and Works of Occupations Past and Present

Kulturpark Berlin, June 28-29 2012

Submit Proposals to: emjdconference@gmail.com

Due: March 16, 2012

Pairing the interdisciplinary nature of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctoral Programs with the innovation of multimedia storytelling, the PREOCCUPIED 2012 conference offers a platform for academics, activists and artists to challenge the confines of their disciplines: provoking thought, debate, and action on issues that have accelerated to global predominance in light of the recent occupations.

 The conference invites papers that consider the various meanings of the word occupy and occupation. The disparate meanings of the increasingly-loaded word will be assembled in panels and a series of talks, interspersed with forays into art and activism, inviting participants to explore the roots of the current occupation movement, and its implications throughout time and place – in the realms of work, conquest, and protest.

Hosted by the Kulturpark Berlin, an abandoned DDR theme park, the conference will embody occupation in many ways: from its location, to its catering – which will feature locally foraged greens and “recycled” foods, courtesy of The Dinner Exchange. In collaboration with the Kulturpark, international visual artists will coexist with the conference participants in the uncanny spaces of the Kulturpark. PREOCCUPIED is an unlikely conference, bringing together a diversity of people and opinions in two stimulating days of art, academics, action and interaction.

We welcome papers that address issues related to Occupation, in the broadest sense of the word. These might consider, but should by no means be limited to:

OCCUPATION OF SPACE

●      Occupation as colonization / decolonization

●      Occupied territories

●      Occupation of online spaces – social media and virtual action

●      The city as political space

OCCUPATION OF TIME

●      Occupation as employment, as a calling

●      Occupation in the humanities

●      Preoccupations and professions

THE OCCUPATIONS

●      Occupation as protest, strategy or change

●      The Occupies

●      Art as occupation/resistance

Some of the presentations of papers will be video-recorded, and thus a certain use of interactivity, audiovisual materials and storytelling is encouraged. While not all of the talks need be filmed, the goal of creating engaged, concise talks should apply to all. Those that opt to have their talks filmed may see them featured on the conference’s website.

Paper Proposals

 Scholars from all areas of the Humanities are invited to submit proposals for contributions. The conference languages are English, French, and German. Proposals may be written in any of the above languages.

 We ask prospective participants to submit a short (1-2 page) CV and an abstract (between 250-500 words) that outlines the paper’s topic, methodology and argument, as well as how the prospective participant’s research interests relate to the theme of the conference. Please do not hesitate to contact us prior to the deadline if you have concerns about the suitability of your proposal. Our email is: emjdconference@gmail.com

Please note that individuals may submit only one paper proposal, either to the open call or as a part of a pre-constituted panel. Panels should number no more than three people, need not be limited to academics, and must include a single proposal of 500 words and separate CVs for all of the proposed panel members.

Please submit all CVs and proposals no later than March 16, 2012.

All applicants will be contacted by mid-April.