From: Karine Zbinden <[log in to unmask]>
Apologies for cross-posting
CALL FOR PAPERS
FIRST INTERNATIONAL TZVETAN TODOROV CONFERENCE IN
HONOUR OF HIS 65TH BIRTHDAY
"Tzvetan Todorov and the Future of the Human Sciences"
24-27 June 2004
Bakhtin Centre, University of Sheffield, UK
Tzvetan Todorov, who has gradually emerged as a leading intellectual
figure in Europe, has consistently refused enclosure in established
disciplines, and has approached human experience from a variety of
angles. The clarity of his style and accessibility of his thought
enhance the unifying perspective he has adopted within the human
sciences. A growing trend in the humanities today consists, precisely,
in questioning the boundaries erected between the various disciplines
of the human sciences and in addressing the need for research in the
humanities to develop in new directions. It is our belief that critical
theory should provide the platform for this debate rather than
remaining at a "theoretical second remove" and commenting only after
the fact. It therefore appears imperative to create a forum for
discussion of the works and thought of Tzvetan Todorov in a manner that
would bridge the divides between academic disciplines, considering that
Todorov is an outstanding exemplar of what has been achieved in
overcoming disciplinary boundaries, and of the potential that still
remains for doing so.
The conference proposes to assess the position and contribution of
Tzvetan Todorov's thought to the human sciences and to evaluate the
potential of his concept of "critical humanism" as an alternative to
theory. Therefore, the conference seeks to bring together scholars from
various disciplines who engage with Todorov's work and to foster cross-
disciplinary thought in the humanities (critical theory, literature,
history, philosophy, philosophical anthropology, semiotics) with a view
to publishing at least one thematically focused volume of articles.
TZVETAN TODOROV will give a public lecture in the French Embassy
Lecture Series on 26 June 2004 and will participate in a roundtable
with the conference participants on 27 June.
Keynote speakers include:
Stoyan ATANASSOV (University of Sofia) on "Todorov or the Dialogical
Self at the Crossroads of Cultures";
Frances FERGUSON (Johns Hopkins University) on "Tzvetan Todorov on
Narratives and Societies";
Eugene GOODHEART (Brandeis University) on "Todorov, Berlin, Kolakowski
and Me";
Robert ZARETSKY (University of Houston) on "Uncommon Histories: An
Evening with Jean-Jacques Rousseau at the Drury Lane Theatre".
Papers addressing one or more of the following areas will be
especially welcome:
-cross-disciplinarity as the future of the human sciences
-critical humanism: new form of humanism or well-tempered liberal
humanism ?
-literature as privileged medium for understanding human experience
-ethical approaches to history
-"exemplary narrative" as an original contribution to critical theory
-Todorov's contribution to holocaust studies
-Todorov as European intellectual
-historical and/or contemporary sources of or influences on Todorov's
thought (for ex. Rousseau, Constant, Bakhtin, Ferry, ?)
-crossing cultures : translating Todorov, Todorov in translation, etc.
Papers addressing other issues related to the general aims of the
conference and proposals for panels (see guidelines below) are
encouraged.
Papers will be organised in panels of 3 lasting 90 minutes. Each paper
should last 20-25 minutes (maximum) in order to leave adequate time for
discussion.
Advance posting of abstracts, or even full papers, on the conference
website is envisaged.
Publication:
A selection of the papers presented will be considered for publication
in a special issue of The Canadian Review of Comparative Literature.
Abstracts:
Please send 300-word abstracts by e-mail attachment in RTF or Word
format to mailto:[log in to unmask] by 30 September 2003.
Proposals for panels should include title of panel, names and
institutional affiliations of chair and three panellists with abstracts
and name of discussant if appropriate.
Please consult the conference website for updated information at
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/A-C/bakh/homeconf.html
and address
any query to the conference organisers (Karine Zbinden and David
Shepherd): by e-mail ([log in to unmask] or
[log in to unmask]) or by post to:
Tzvetan Todorov Conference
Bakhtin Centre
Arts Tower, fl. 8
University of Sheffield
Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
Please pass on this information to anybody you know who may be
interested.
**********************
Dr Karine Zbinden
SNF Research Fellow
Bakhtin Centre
Arts Tower, floor 8
Western Bank
University of Sheffield
SHEFFIELD S10 2TN, G.B.
ph. 0044 (0)114 222 7412
fax ph. 0044 (0)114 222 7416
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/A-C/bakh/zbinden.html
http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/A-C/bakh/todorov.html
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