Dear Colleagues,

The following Call for Papers is perhaps a little unexpected for this 
list. But then we asked ourselves: is it possible that musicology has 
absolutely nothing to say on the subject?

It is in that spirit that I am sending it to the list.

If anyone has a musicological paper to propose, we would be delighted to 
hear from you.

Deadline for submissions is 15 February.

With best regards,

Ed

__________________



Call for Papers:

PLEASE CIRCULATE TO INTERESTED PARTIES

                        MERDE ALORS!
               An interdisciplinary conference
           on excrement, past, present and future

VENUE: School of Oriental and African Studies [SOAS, University of London]

DATE: Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 October 2023

FORMAT: In-person conference, with options for distance participation.

CONFERENCE PROSPECTUS

Our initial starting point for organising 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.
________________________

Subjects for possible contributions 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 and fodder

      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.
_______________

Proposals should include the following:

Title; name and affiliation of proposer; abstract (250 words max) and a 
CV (100 words max).

Please send abstracts to the conference organiser at the address below.

The closing date for submissions is 15 February 2023.

The programme of speakers will be notified on 1 March 2023.

E-mail: [log in to unmask]

________________

Conference chair: William Gervase Clarence-Smith [SOAS, University of 
London]

Conference organiser: Ed Emery [SOAS, University of London]


6.i.2023

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