Call for Proposals: PSFG/ATHE 2012

full name / name of organization: 
Performance Studies Focus Group - Association for Theatre in Higher Education
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Call for Proposals: PSFG/ATHE 2012

The Performance Studies Focus Group (PSFG) of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) invites session proposals for the 2012 Conference at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., 2-5 August on the conference theme of "Performance as/is Civic Engagement: Advocate, Collaborate, Educate." We welcome proposals for panels, performances, roundtables, working groups, and alternative formats.

In the midst of the political circus surrounding the United States 2012 presidential election, we will reconcile the state of contemporary political performance with intellectual gestures toward an idealistic notion of the performative. In the current climate, can performance still create hope? As mediatized performance dominates Washington power plays, PSFG invites submissions that consider the possibility of advocacy and civic engagement. Might performance disrupt/reinforce hegemonic structures? Does performance as civic engagement necessarily have to participate in the process of nation building? What opportunities exist for transnational civic engagement? How might we trace the genealogy of performative politics in the United States and beyond? In the wake of social mediatization and political posturing, what indeed is the new capitalist aesthetic? We encourage historical work as well as political performance of all kinds, from all periods, in all places.

All session proposals are filed electronically directly to ATHE. A link to the session proposal form, along with full explanations, can be found at http://athe.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=156. All session proposals have a deadline of 1 November.

ATHE also accepts proposals for Multidisciplinary (MD) sessions. Multidisciplinary panels must be sponsored by at least three different focus groups. All MD session organizers must contact the Conference Planners of all sponsoring groups before submitting their session directly to ATHE. If you would like to learn more about ATHE Focus Groups, go to: http://athe.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=14. All session proposals are due by 1 November.

While individual papers will receive consideration, submissions that pull together a strong panel of participants are preferred. With individual papers, the Focus Group Conference Planner will curate panels, attempting to match up related papers. In order to facilitate this process, these papers must be received directly by the Conference Planner Megan Shea at megan.shea@nyu.edu, by October 10th. Individual paper proposals should include title, contact information, and an abstract of 250 words.

If you are looking for co-panelists, please feel free to post your inquiries to our listserv: PerformanceStudiesList@athe.org. If you are not yet a member of the listserv, you can subscribe by sending an e-mail to imailsrv@athe.org. In the body of the e-mail, type the following: subscribe PerformanceStudiesList Firstname Lastname (where Firstname and Lastname equal your first name and your last name).

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact:

Megan Shea

PSFG Conference Planner

Expository Writing Program

New York University

411 Lafayette Street, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10003

megan.shea@nyu.edu