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The last two decades have seen three significant paradigm shifts. First, there is a movement to deconstruct in order to reconstruct the super physical world of consciousness in relation to the post human body - data made flesh. Secondly, the academic disciplines commonly grouped under the headings of humanities and arts have seen a shift from the textual to the performative. The arts and humanities have in common that they study expressions of the experience of being human. It is precisely that experience that is at the centre of the third paradigm shift, in the interdisciplinary scientific study of consciousness. The insights of consciousness studies are important to performance and theatre on at least two levels: first, they can help us better understand processes involved in those forms of culture. Such better understanding, in turn, may lead to changes in theatre and performance practice. Within the International Federation for Theatre Research (IFTR), the working group Performance and Consciousness seeks to provide a meeting space for rigorous, critical exploration of the relationship between consciousness, theatre and performance. At the IFTR World Congress (see http://www.helsinki.fi/taitu/english/theatre/firt/), 7-12 August 2006, the working group Performance and Consciousness will be launched, co-convened by Jade McCutcheon (University of California Davis, ([log in to unmask]) and Daniel Meyer-Dinkgräfe (University of Wales Aberystwyth, [log in to unmask]). For the working group sessions at the congress, we invite proposals for short, 10-minute papers addressing your key area of research / interest to do with Performance and Consciousness. We are also open to workshops, although can only place two of these. Please send proposals to Jade McCutcheon, [log in to unmask], who acts as convenor for the conference. ********************************************************************** Dr. Daniel Meyer-Dinkgräfe Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies University of Wales Aberystwyth Parry Williams Building Penglais Campus Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3AJ Tel. 01970 622835 Fax 01970 622831 email: [log in to unmask] Consciousness, Literature and the Arts URL http://www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/journal Yn unol â pholisi dwyieithog Prifysgol Cymru, Aberystwyth, mae croeso i chi ohebu â’r Brifysgol yn Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg. In accordance with the bilingual policy of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, you are welcome to correspond with the University in either Welsh or English.