CALL FOR PAPERS
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HALLOWEEN
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND: 31 OCTOBER - 1 NOVEMBER 2006
Despite its increasing importance as both a cultural and an economic
phenomenon in a growing number of countries, Halloween remains a
surprisingly under-researched and under-theorised topic in academic
writing. Originating in the Celtic festival of Samhain celebrating the
Celtic new year in Ireland and Scotland, Halloween moved from there to
America in the nineteenth century with Scottish and Irish emigrants,
only to return to Europe towards the end of twentieth century as a not
universally welcome guest (it was, for example, condemned by the French
bishops in 1999 and now exists in some degree of tension with
traditional religious days such as All Saints and All Souls). It has
also become a high-profile media topic, not only in films such as the
Halloween series, but also featuring in television news and in (often
scare-mongering) stories in the press, and even in cartoons, and its
growing economic importance as a source of merchandising and even of
tourism-related activities is increasingly in evidence. In Scotland
and Ireland, where Halloween in its modern form has been celebrated for
well over a century, changes in the form of those celebrations are only
too apparent.
The aim of this conference is to explore all aspects of Halloween as a
social, cultural and economic phenomenon. We therefore welcome
proposals for 20-minute papers on:
The emergence of Halloween in different countries Tensions between
Halloween and traditional religious events Halloween and
Americanisation Media representations of Halloween The economics of
Halloween Halloween and ethnology Halloween and tourism Halloween and
postmodernity The politics and policing of Halloween Halloween and
moral panics ... and indeed other topics relating to the complex and
multifaceted phenomenon
It is our intention to produce at least one edited collection of
articles based on conference papers.
The conference will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, on 31 October and 1
November 2006. Invited speakers include:
Salvador Cardús, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Jonas Frykman, Lunds universitet, Sweden Lothar Mikos, Hochschule für
Film und Fernsehen "Konrad Wolf", Potsdam, Germany Jack Santino,
Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA
Proposals (max. 250 words) should be sent, preferably by e-mail, to:
Prof. Hugh O'Donnell
Cultural Business Group
Glasgow Caledonian University
Cowcaddens Road
Glasgow
G4 0BA
Scotland (UK)
Tel: +44 (0)141 331 3262
Fax: +44 (0)141 331 3264
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
by Friday 31 March 2006 at the latest. Decisions on acceptance will be
communicated by mid-April.
For further information regarding registration, fees, accommodation
etc. please consult:
http://www.caledonian.ac.uk/halloween/
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