CALL FOR PAPERS
Intermediality
April 8-9, 2016
Brown University | Providence, Rhode Island
Keynote: Morgane Cadieu
Assistant Professor of French, Yale University

Intermediality refers to the many ways in which different media may encounter each other and interact with one another. This notion applies to a wide variety of works of art; metalinguistic and descriptive texts; works whose structure borrows from other forms of media; and the elaboration of or the rupture with a specific artistic tradition; or even mere allusions to other works. These characteristics may all contribute to a reflection on the interconnections between different forms of art, and the essential role that these relationships play in the production and the reception of these works.

From the ancient rhetorical tradition of ekphrasis famously illustrated by Homer's Iliad and its description of Achilles's shield, to the contemporary utilization of computer software in order to mechanically generate meaningful texts; from the attempts of nineteenth century literary critics to create a hierarchy of the arts, to the joint development of new art forms and techniques through an artistic movement such as hip hop, intermediality emerges as a key concept that brings together different art form in all of their diversity and complexity.

This Equinoxes conference aims to generate discussion about various art forms — literature, cinema, music, the visual arts, the performing arts, etc. — throughout the history of France and Francophone countries. We encourage proposals from a variety of disciplines (French & Francophone Studies, Comparative Literature, History, Philosophy, Postcolonial Studies, Art History, Media & Cultural Studies, etc.). Potential avenues of exploration may include, but are not limited to:

ekphrasis
metaphor or visual effects in texts
illustrated books
art criticism
intermedial inspiration or mimetism
intermedial references, allusions
synesthesia
connections between art, philosophy, etc.
transpositions of art techniques
adaptations
artistic movements
artists' correspondence
artistic collaborations, artists' friendships
contemporaneous artists
transcultural influences
new media and their origins or relationship to other media
effects of a new medium on already existing art forms

Graduate students who wish to participate in the conference should submit an abstract of no more than 250 words. Abstracts must be sent, as attachments, to brown.equinoxes@gmail.com before December 20, 2015. Emails should include the author's name, institutional affiliation, and contact information. Presentations, whether in English or in French, should not exceed 20 minutes.