Apologies for cross posting

2nd call for papers: JOURNEYS OF EXPRESSIONS V: TOURISM AND THE ROOTS/ROUTES OF RELIGIOUS FESTIVITY, which will take place in
Belfast, Northern Ireland, from 13th to 15th March 2006. 

In this, the fifth of our continuing conference series exploring the multi-faceted relationships between tourism and festivals,
Journeys of Expression aims to discuss touristic practices in relation to forms of traditional and contemporary religious
festivity. The conference seeks to examine the meanings and roots of religious festivity within the context of tourism and related
studies, the ways by which tourists arrive at, and consume religious festivity, and the ways in which touristic practice
encounters, and in some instances shapes, the religious. 

In a world apparently struggling with the boundaries of 'the religious', we are interested in the social practice of tourism, as a
spatial displacement of the human body creating, a priori, a liminal space for mental and physical recreation. Situating this
approach within the field of tourism, we hope, permits to analyse important shifts and transformations of traditional liturgical
practices, manifested in particular by the veneration of new, now touristic forms of 'sacred' objects, spaces and elements
('nature', 'culture', 'art', 'sun', 'water', etc.). Within the contemporary transnationalised world how do we make sense of the
religious - its symbolic expression, its politicisation etc. - through both festivity and tourism? How do festivals mobilise
religious symbols to tell stories and make visible particular representations of the self? What are the festive roles attributed
to, or taken by tourists and how are these integrated with forms of festive exchange and ritual? And, how can a better
understanding of tourism-festival relationships shape agendas for 'intercultural dialogue' and peace as articulated by
international organisations such as UNESCO. 

Indicative themes of the conference include: 

- Defining Religious Festivity: Genesis, Genealogy and Displacement 
- Tourism, Pilgrimage and Travel Liturgies: Variations and Continuity of the 'Sacred Journey' in the Contemporary World 
- Tourism and Transnational Festival Spaces: Festive Ostentation, Sacrifice, Transgression and Exchange in the Contemporary World
- Festive Economics / Politics of Making Visible: Religious Symbols, Discourse and the Formulation of Social Spaces / Boundaries
in the Contemporary World
- Material Diasporas: Tourism Souvenirs and Meanings
- Tourism, Intersubjective Encounters and Power Relations in Religious Festivals 
- The Continuity / End of War and Conflict: From Paradigms of Clash to Paradigms of Peace? 

In the tradition of the Journeys of Expression series, we wish to animate an interdisciplinary debate on the suggested themes and
welcome paper proposals from academics from various disciplinary backgrounds including: tourism studies, anthropology, cultural
studies, cultural geography, theology, philosophy, performance studies, cultural economics, politics, etc. If you wish to submit a
paper proposal, please send a 300-word abstract with full address and institutional affiliation details as an electronic file to
Daniela Carl ([log in to unmask] ). 

Besides the full conference fee we can also offer special daily rates for attendance: 
			£50 Pounds Sterling (student rate)
			£75 Pounds Sterling (normal rate)

In addition, the IFEA (International Festival and Events Association Europe) and the Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change is
organising a research stream, which will again bring together international researchers with policy makers and practitioners in
the festivals and cultural events sector. The conference will discuss the complex relationships between identities, festivals,
cultural events and tourism focusing in particular on aspects of policy, management, programming and marketing. Please contact Dr
Phil Long ([log in to unmask]) for further information.

Best regards,


Daniela S. Carl
Centre for Tourism & Cultural Change
Sheffield Hallam University
Owen Building, Howard Street
Sheffield S1 1WB
UK

E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Phone: +44 (0)114-225 5105