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CFC: Political Power and Performance since 1990 With powerful performances of politicians, such as Berlusconi, Blair, Bush, Putin etc, and their (ab)use of the media, the political arena has changed significantly, with regard to both democratic and totalitarian states. Success in the political arena relies heavily on the presentation of the political self/selves. The aim of this volume is thus to analyse politics in terms of a staged spectacle, as a performance in an event-based paradigm; a feature which becomes most evident during election campaigns or wars. Although much criticised, the popularity of the use of performance analogies and dramaturgical metaphors (Goffman, Turner) to refer to human behaviour in the social sciences tells a different story. From the viewpoint of many spectators, notably journalists, the metaphor of the "social drama" is still applicable. As far as the practised skills of politicians in our fast-moving media age are concerned, the dichotomies deceit - authenticity, activity - passivity remain powerful concepts, but need to be re(de)fined. The so-called authentic political message seems to be replaced by a performative construction of reality, which can take on numerous forms, ranging from the ritualised performance in front of a selected audience, to the mediatised, speed-dominated image set up as a smoke-screen (Virilio). Still, the question as to whether or not a certain degree of manipulation is in fact needed in order to make politics credible is still controversial (Fischer-Lichte). This is especially the case, when politicians hide behind their mediatised representation, the most notorious examples being the video appearances of Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden, where the simulacrum literally serves as a means of rational manipulation (Baudrillard). With regard to the western dramaturgical concept, which is still largely based on the notion of illusion, the question is whether the framework of political perfomance has become a virtual art with real consequences. Proposals are invited for essays of about 7000 words in length, addressing the following subject areas: · The Performativity of Political Practice · Performative Politics and the Media · Persuasive Strategies of Political Performance · Delusion and Information/ Spin-Doctors · Redefining the Performativity of Political Power · The Performative Model and the Boundaries between Ritual and Political Practice · The Communality of Ritual and Political Practice · The Politics of Form: Resisting the Political 'Spectacle' Comparative and interdisciplinary approaches are welcome. Deadline for abstracts (300 words): 31 June 2004. Deadline for submitting the essays (in English or German): 15 August 2004. Contact: Dr Birgit Haas, email [log in to unmask] ---------------------- Dr Birgit Haas, University of Bristol German Department BS 8 1TH Bristol Telephone: 0117 9288794 [log in to unmask]