EMBODIMENT, EXPRESSIONS, EXITS: TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE AND CULTURAL IDENTITY

VI Autumn Conference of the Centre of Excellence in Cultural Theory
EMBODIMENT, EXPRESSIONS, EXITS: TRANSFORMING EXPERIENCE AND CULTURAL IDENTITY

University of Tartu, Estonia
October 30 – November 1, 2013

The Sixth Autumn Conference of the Centre of Excellence in Cultural Theory (CECT) focuses on the issues of embodiment, personhood, subjectivity, and experience, as well as on the connection of these concepts with the understanding of cultural identity. The notion of identity is often treated in the framework of controversial efforts of dialogic interpretation. Recognising the individuality of the studied subjects, it becomes tricky to merge a variety of self-understandings into a coherent whole. Identity appears to us as an interconnected play of superficial and fundamental, ideological and physical, essentialised and dialogic. The conceptual initiative of our conference is inspired by these controversial cognitive dimensions. We encourage our colleagues to develop theoretical and empirical approaches through a conceptual matrix that focuses primarily on the proposed concepts of understanding and interpreting cultural identity.

Plenary lecturers include:
Prof. Molly Andrews (University of East London)
Prof. Billy Ehn (Umeå University)
Dr. Chris Fowler (Newcastle University) Dr. John Wylie (University of Exeter)
Dr. Katharine Young (independent scholar, visiting lecturer at UC Berkeley)

Panel I: Revisiting key issues in the methodology of studying culture: reflexivity, representation and experience 
Panel II: Negotiating embodied experiences 
Panel III: Learning landscapes: stories, senses and sensitization
Panel IV: Dynamics between public and private
Panel V: Death as the transformation of personhood 

Key Dates and Deadlines: 
Abstracts Due: June 1st, 2013
Acceptance Notification: July 1st, 2013
Registration Deadline: September 15th, 2013
Full Paper Submission: October 15th, 2013

A conference fee is not required but there will be no reimbursement for accommodation and travel costs for conference guests (except for CECT members). More information about accommodation choices will be provided after acceptance notification.

Organisers 
Centre of Excellence in Cultural Theory (EU, European Regional Development Fund), University of Tartu, Tallinn University

Contact 
Conference administrator: Monika Tasa, CECT coordinator
Email: cect@ut.ee