Dear Colleagues,
A slightly unusual subject, but I send this call for expressions of interest, in case it might be of interest to some of you. A primal area of environmental / labour concern.
For your information, we also maintain a JISC discussion list on these matters.
With best regards,
Ed Emery
_____________
"MERDE ALORS! An interdisciplinary conference on excrement, past,
present and future"
VENUE: The School of Oriental and African Studies [SOAS, University of
London]
DATE: October 2023
CONFERENCE PROSPECTUS
Our initial starting point for this conference was the collecting and
trading of human and animal excrement as an organic fertiliser, both
solid and liquid, throughout the ages.
However, this is one of those commodities that dares not speak its name,
due to taboos that surround the topic. The widespread euphemism
‘nightsoil’ is one of many that obscures the subject.
It is therefore necessary to work within an interdisciplinary frame of
reference, and to extend our brief into a wider terrain, probing the
social, psychological, and cultural issues arising out of this most
human of topics.
In that spirit, we invite expressions of interest from all persons with
proposals for presenting research papers, or wishing to attend the
conference. Please note that, in today’s parlance, we shall deal with
both poop and pee.
We also request that you circulate this call to colleagues who may be
interested.
________________________
A formal Call for Papers will be issued in late summer 2022. Subjects
for possible contributions will include:
The collecting, trading and usages of excrement through the ages.
The treatment of nightsoil and manure to limit infections of
people and animals.
The development of systems of sewage and household hygiene.
The role of excreta in the production of gases, both beneficial
and harmful.
The uses of excrement in the pursuit of wars and social struggles.
Rights and prohibitions in respect of bodily excreta.
Etymologies, proverbs, namings, puns, and euphemisms.
Excrement in the archaeological record
Excrement as fuel, fodder and building material
Excrement in the realm of biomedicals and medicine.
The excremental vision in literature, drama, and poetry.
Treatments and issues in psychology, psychiatry, and mental health.
The points of view of religions.
Poop-phobia and poop liberation.
_______________
If you are interested in offering a paper, please write in the
first instance to:
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
________________
Conference chair: William Gervase Clarence-Smith [SOAS, University of
London]
Conference organiser: Ed Emery [SOAS, University of London]
12.viii.2022
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