Call for papers

GHost 2: Hostings

A project by Sarah Sparkes and Ricarda Vidal
Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, Stewart House, 32 Russell
Square, London WC1B 5DN

Deadline for submissions of proposals: 15 September 2009

Recently BBC Radio 4 broadcast a short discussion between James Buchan
and Jonathan Sutherland on whether ghost stories are a credible form of
storytelling in these sceptical times. Both argued in favour of ghosts
and their timeless ability to make us aware of those issues we'd rather
like to forget. Ghosts are remnants of suppressed memories, but they can
also speak of desires we don't dare acknowledge or of dreams we have
given up dreaming. Ghosts are ephemeral, changeable and intangible but
they are also eternal. They are a flighty presence but often they are
tied to a specific place. They are domestic creatures but they travel
lightly by word of mouth.

Ghosts, of course, have evolved over the centuries and early on the
ghostly entered science and technology. Soon after the first photograph
had been taken, the first ghost appeared in print. Photographic and
later film and video cameras were used to trace, and also to create,
their ephemeral and flighty presence. These days, film and video are
joined by the digital with its sheer infinite possibilities. With
advances in technology images of ghosts become less and less believable,
but ghosts, whether in stories or images, are as popular as ever.
Whether one believes in them or not they continue to be a credible form
of story-telling commenting on and exploring the changing memories and
dreams of contemporary times.

GHosting aims to address the various roles ghosts play in contemporary
culture by bringing artists, writers, curators and researchers together
for two workshops, so-called 'hostings' and an exhibition of moving
image art. The hostings will take place at the Institute of Germanic &
Romance Studies and the exhibition will be hosted by St Johns on Bethnal
Green.

We would like to invite proposals for presentations of 30 minutes on the
theme of the ghostly for the two hostings on 20 October and 17 November.
Whether you're proposing an academic paper, a performative talk, a
recital of poetry or creative writing or a presentation of your art
practice please think of ways of presenting your work beyond the neat
framing of Power Point and take us somewhere on the far side of Windows
Vista.

Please send a (working) title, an abstract of ca. 300 words, and, if
applicable one or two pictures, to [log in to unmask]

Abstracts should reach us no later than 15 September 2009.

For more info please see our webiste:
http://www.host-a-ghost.blogspot.com/

Or join the GHost group on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1166662399611&mbox_pos=0
#/group.php?gid=117301037117&ref=mf



Artists, please note that there is a separate call for submissions for
the GHost exhibition at St Johns on 18-20 December.  You can download
this from our website our from facebook.





Dr Ricarda Vidal

Lecturer in Visual Culture

Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies
School of Advanced Study
Stewart House, 32 Russell Squ, London WC1B 5DN
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&st=2&pc=WC1B+5DN&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf>

phone: 020 7862 8961

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