This Symposium aims to explore the complex and contested relationship between Trauma Studies and postcolonial theory, focusing on the possibilities for creating a decolonized trauma theory that takes account of the suffering of minority groups and non-Western cultures, broadly defined as cultures beyond Western Europe and North America. Our symposium will build on the insights of, inter alia, Stef Craps's book, Postcolonial Witnessing, and will respond to his challenge to interrogate and move beyond a Eurocentric trauma paradigm.

Speakers are invited to submit papers on the theorization and representation of any aspect of non-Western and/or minority cultural trauma. The focus will be predominately, but not exclusively, on literature but could include other artistic and cultural forms and practices.

Following the Symposium, papers will be considered for possible publication in Humanities (ISSN 2076-0787), currently running a special issue entitled "Decolonizing Trauma Studies: Trauma and Postcolonialism" (http://www.mdpi.com/journal/humanities/special_issues/TraumaPostcolonial...).

Submission requirements:

Title, 250 word abstract and a one paragraph academic biography. Please let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements, and if you will require a parking space.

Submission Deadline:

1 March 2015

Please email your submission to: Dr Sonya Andermahr (sonya.andermahr@northampton.ac.uk) and copy in Dr Larissa Allwork (Larissa.allwork@northampton.ac.uk)