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The Dialectics of Orientalism in Early Modern Europe, 1492-1700

The Dialectics of Orientalism in Early Modern Europe, 1492-1700

Publié le par Marion Moreau (Source : Marcus Keller)

The Dialectics ofOrientalism in Early Modern Europe, 1492-1700

University ofIllinois, Urbana-Champaign, October 7-8, 2011

In early modern Europe, discourses on and images of theOrient and Islam are inextricably tied to the rise of national consciousnessand the formation of a European identity as several Western states werestriving for imperial supremacy. The goal of this international andinterdisciplinary conference is to explore the dialectical function of earlymodern Orientalism for the creation of different notions of a collective self:national, European, and/or imperial.

We invite proposals for contributions that analyze themultiple uses of an imaginary Islam and Orient and compare at least twonational orientalist discourses and/or the intersection of nation-building andthe invention of Europeanness catalyzed through these discourses. Beyond beingsimplifications, what role do stereotypes play in the complex and oftencontradictory rhetorical dynamics that served to articulate, implement andpromote both internal policies and supranational endeavors of imperial supremacy?To whom are these stereotypical representations addressed and through whatmedia? In what instances does the creation of a fictive homogeneous nation leadto the conceptual “islamization” of minority groups? Is there a competitionamong European nation-states for the hegemony in the representation of theOriental, and in which ways does it feed into a transnational rivalry forimperial power? What does the comparison of different national accounts ofOrientalism reveal about the supposed homogeneity of the stereotypical Muslim?

Proposals for presentations of 20-25 min that address any ofthese or related questions will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary organizingcommittee. The conference language is English.

Please send a 250-500 wordabstract by November 15 to earlymodernorientalism@illinois.edu,along with information about your professional affiliation and a brief cv or a referenceto your personal website.

For more information, visit www.earlymodernorientalism.illinois.eduor contact the organizers:

Marcus Keller (Department of French): mkeller@illinois.edu

Javier Irigoyen-García(Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese): irigoyen@illinois.edu