Visionary Texts Past and Present: Reimagining the World

full name / name of organization: 
English Graduate Student Association at York University
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Visionary texts have shaped the world throughout history. Ancient philosophers, poets, and artists in every era have reimagined the world, and presented images that have inspired world-historical transformations. This conference will survey all manner of visionary texts (literary, artistic, musical, filmic), and examine how they have and continue to change the world. This conference invites a consideration of such influential interventions and their inspired visions in a wide range of historical periods and subject areas including, science, literature, religion, politics, art, and technology.

Some potential topics include but are not limited to: visions of nation and the world, prophetic and mystical works, subversive, nationalist and anti-nationalist projects, future worlds, space as an aspect of the psyche, dream visions, technology, borders, new religions and spirituality, literature, art, film and music, old and new media.

Please submit an abstract of 250 words for a 20-minute paper and a 100-word biography to olga.stein1@yahoo.ca by Thursday March 27th, 2014

The conference will be held at York University, Toronto, Canada on May 9th and 10th 2014.