Midnapore College (Autonomous)
International Seminar
on
“Aestheticism in Art and Literature” (সাহিত্য ও শিল্পে নন্দনতত্ত্ব)
To be organized by
Department of Bengali & Cultural Section
in collaboration with IQAC
on 13 January 2026
Mode: Hybrid(Online & Offline)
“The purpose of art is the realization of aesthetic bliss (Ānanda)” - Abhinavagupta.
Aestheticism, as a philosophical and artistic movement, foregrounds beauty, form, and sensory experience as intrinsic values of art and literature. Rooted in classical aesthetic theories and revitalised through modern and postmodern discourses, aestheticism challenges utilitarian, moralistic, and didactic approaches to creative expression. The proposed seminar, “Aestheticism on Art and Literature” (সাহিত্য ও শিল্পে নন্দনতত্ত্ব), aims to explore the evolving dimensions of aesthetic thought across cultures, languages, and artistic forms.
In the context of Indian and global traditions, aesthetics has always been central to creative practice- from Rasa theory in Sanskrit poetics to Western notions of Art for Art’s Sake, and from folk and visual arts to contemporary digital and performative media. This seminar seeks to create a meaningful dialogue between classical theories and contemporary practices, between Eastern and Western aesthetic paradigms, and between literature and the allied arts.
In an age marked by rapid technological advancement, market-driven creativity, and ideological polarisation, revisiting aesthetics becomes crucial. The seminar intends to reassert the importance of beauty, imagination, emotional resonance, and artistic autonomy, while also interrogating how aesthetic values respond to social realities, cultural identities, and ethical concerns.
By bringing together scholars, artists, researchers, and students, the seminar will provide a platform to reflect on how aesthetic principles shape literary texts, visual arts, theatre, cinema, music, and other creative expressions in both traditional and contemporary contexts. “Aestheticism on Art and Literature” (সাহিত্য ও শিল্পে নন্দনতত্ত্ব) seeks to celebrate the enduring power of beauty and artistic imagination while critically engaging with its transformations in contemporary times. By revisiting aesthetics as both a philosophy and a practice, the seminar endeavours to reaffirm art and literature as vital spaces of human experience, creativity, and cultural dialogue.
Themes / Sub-themes (indicative, not exhaustive)
Aesthetic Theories: Indian and Western Perspectives
Rasa, Alankara, Dhvani and their relevance today
Art for Art’s Sake: Relevance and Critique
Aestheticism in Literature and Art
Beauty, Form, and Sensibility in Modern and Postmodern Literature
Aesthetics of Visual Arts, Cinema, Theatre, and Music
Folk Art and Indigenous Aesthetic Traditions
Digital Media and New Aesthetic Forms
Ethics, Politics, and the Question of Aesthetics
Translation Studies and Aesthetic Transfer
Politics of Aesthetics and Cultural Power
Nationalism, Identity, and Aesthetic Representation
Postcolonial Aesthetics
Gender, Feminism, and Aesthetic Theory
Ecology, Nature, and Environmental Aesthetics
Aesthetics in Education and Curriculum Design (NEP 2020)
Art Therapy and Aesthetic Healing
Aesthetics and Psychology
Urban Spaces and Everyday Aesthetics
Aesthetics of the Body and Performance
Submission Guidelines:
Abstract: 250-300 words, with 4-5 keywords
Full Paper: 3000 words and above
Language: Bengali / English
Font & Format:
Bengali: Avro/Unicode, 12 pt, Kalpurush/Nirmala UI
English: Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 spacing
File format: MS Word (.doc or .docx)
The paper must be original and not under consideration elsewhere.
Registration Details:
Faculty / Academicians as Paper Presenters: ₹1000
Research Scholars as Paper Presenters: ₹800
Participation without paper: ₹500
Students: ₹150
Spot registration available (limited seats)
Important Dates:
Last date for abstract submission: 05.01.2026
Notification of acceptance: 07.01.2026
Date of registration:10.01.2026
Last date for full paper submission: 15.02.2026
Date of Seminar: 13.01.2026
Publication:
Selected papers may be published in an edited volume with ISBN, subject to recommendations of reviewer and editorial norms.
Resource Persons:
Dilip Sur, Painter and Sculptor, Royal College of Art, UK
Prof. Indranil Acharya, Professor, Department of English, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, India
Gail Dickerson, Freelance Artist, UK
Submission & Contact:
Abstracts and papers should be sent to:
Email: conferencebciqac@gmail.com
Contact: 9434243908/9434354724/8918446172