Rethinking the History of Childhood:Narratives, Sources, Debates University of Greenwich, Centre for the Study of Play and Recreation, 14 January 2012 In conjunction with the Society for the Study of Childhood in the Past, Social History Society, and Life-Cycles seminar, Institute of Historical Research Call for Papers The history of childhood is now ripe for re-evaluation. Philippe Aries’ Centuries of Childhood (1960, translated 1962) although roundly criticised, stimulated an interest in the history of children and the social construction of childhood which has grown exponentially in recent years. Childhood Studies has become a respected subject area embracing a range of academic sub-disciplines. Yet the field is fragmented. The grand narratives of the 1970s have rarely been replaced with other interpretations of the longue durée. More recent paradigms, for example by Postman (1982) and Zelizer (1985), are also limited to the Anglo-American and/or Western European context. Specialists in sub-disciplines such as crime, labour history or policing frequently produce one book on childhood and youth and then return to studying adults. Yet there is a wealth of new research which calls for new models for interpreting childhood experience. The conference will debate existing paradigms while welcoming the work of new scholars and exploring collaboration with related sub-disciplines. Themes include, but are not limited to: ---Recent research on childhood and adolescence and youth; ---Challenges to or revisions of the existing historiography; ---Contributions from sociology, anthropology, literary studies, psychology, philosophy, geography; ---History of areas outside North America and Western Europe; The conference coincides with an exhibition at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery entitled “Junk Playgrounds” Please e-mail abstracts of 250-300 words to [log in to unmask] First Deadline 1st November; notification mid-November. Second deadline 15th November; notification by 1st December. Dr Mary Clare Martin, Centre for the Study of Play and Recreation, School of Education, Jill Shefrin, Trinity College, University of Toronto; University of London [log in to unmask] Senior Research Associate in Arts, Trinity College, University of Toronto Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of English, SAS, University of London