Paradoxes of Life
Challenge - Determination - Resilience
Ever since the paradoxes of Zeno (on the impossibility of motion) and Heraclitus (on the possibility of
ever-present change)—through the work of Baudrillard, Eco, Escher, Hegel, Husserl, Merleau-Ponty,
Peirce, Picasso, Russell, Whitehead, and others—philosophers, scholars, and artists have been exploring
the phenomenological nature of paradoxes. Contemporary societies seem to be especially challenged by
paradoxes in all aspects of life. And yet, antinomies in life are not fortuitous, nor do they result from
incompetence. They are inherent in the human condition and innate forces in cultural and natural
systems.
The irony is that when societies face crises, there is a tendency to confuse paradoxical situations with
problems. This habitual tendency seems to be generated by intolerance for those ambiguities and
uncertainties that are unavoidable features of paradoxes. But whenever paradoxes are perceived as
problems, they can never be solved or dissolved. Rather, sooner or later, apparent solutions are
discovered to be illusions, leading to ever-more-tangled problems. Thus, it is important to be aware of
the difference between what we perceive as problems and what we experience as paradoxes.
Paradoxes present contradictions between irresolvably opposing aspects of life. But life feeds on these
contradictory relations, and the evolution of life itself is paradoxical. Because we are born into a world
of paradoxes, we are compelled to learn how to survive, to persevere, and to thrive in a reality that is
constantly in a state of disequilibrium. Although we are challenged by the tension among various
opposing forces, the resulting paradoxes can offer unique opportunities for engaging in crucial meaningmaking
processes. However, the manner in which we deal with the paradoxes of life is contingent upon
our personal capacity for meeting challenges with determination and resilience. Indeed, how we deal
with paradoxes can give us insight into the nature of complex semiotic processes. We invite you to
consider this theme when planning your contribution to the annual meeting. A list of possible topics (in
no way exhaustive) follows:
• The Structure of Paradox
• The Paradox of Teleology and Absurdism
• The Paradox of Continuity and Discontinuity
• The Paradox of Stability and Change
• The Paradox of Determinism and Free Will
• The Paradox of the Absolute and the Contingent
• The Life and Death Paradox
• The Paradox of Language
• The Paradox of Troping
• The Paradox of Beauty and the Grotesque
• Religious Paradoxes
• Gender Paradoxes
• Paradoxes of Love
• Paradoxes of Communication
• The Paradox of the Whole and the Part
• Paradoxes of Self and Others
• Paradoxes of War and Peace
• Paradoxes of Space and Time
• The Paradox of the Real and the Imaginary
• The Paradox of Comedy and Tragedy
• The Semiotic Paradox of the Lie and the Truth
• Transmodernity and Paradoxes
• Paradoxes of the Digital Age
• Finite and Infinite Paradoxes
Submission of Abstracts and Proposals
Please go to the SSA website http://www.semioticsocietyofamerica.org/index.php/ssa-meetings and
follow the instructions of the “EasyChair” link to submit your abstract or proposal for poster
presentation. The deadline for submission is May 16, 2014. Please include the following information in
your submission:
1. Author’s Name(s)
2. Institutional Affiliation and Academic Status
3. Email Address
4. Title of the Abstract
5. 150- to 200-Word Abstract (in Times New Roman 12)
6. Keywords (maximum 6 words)
Abstracts for individual papers or panels and organized sessions (3–4 papers) as well as poster
presentations must include all of the above information. Papers are for a 20-minute presentation. Early
submission of abstracts and proposals is highly recommended. An acknowledgement of receipt of your
abstract will be sent to you within two weeks from the date of receiving your submission. Electronic
letters of acceptance will be sent to the selected participants by June 30, 2014.
Papers presented at the meeting will also be considered for publication in Semiotics 2014, the Yearbook
of the Semiotic Society of America. The SSA Yearbook is an annual peer-reviewed publication series
sponsored by the Semiotic Society of America, providing both a timely overview of current
developments in semiotic research and a regular outlet for members of the society to publish papers on
their current work. Further details and deadlines will be specified in the Annual Meeting Program.
Student submissions are eligible for the Roberta Kevelson Award, which will honor the best student
paper presented at the 2014 Annual Meeting. Students who wish to be considered for the Kevelson
Award should indicate their interest in their abstract submissions, and submit their full papers to Prof.
Farouk Y. Seif at [log in to unmask] by September 2, 2014.
Special Events
• Pre-Conference Marketplace of Semiotics:
This year’s Annual Meeting will use the self-organizing process known as Open Space Technology
to energize and engage participants in stimulating seminars/workshops. The process will generate a
“Marketplace of Semiotics” that contains diverse sessions. These sessions will form 5–8 distinctive
seminars/workshops for students and scholars new to semiotics, but also of interest to experienced
scholars. The Marketplace of Semiotics will include lunch and will commence with an exceptional
keynote speaker; thereafter, experienced facilitators will conduct these self-generated
seminars/workshops. More information and further details will be provided in the Program.
• Poster Presentations:
Poster presentations will be peer reviewed. Poster sizes should not exceed 3x3 feet in dimension and
be done on matte finish or coated paper. Posters are intended to highlight best practices and research
projects. Submission of poster proposals should include 150–200 words of brief description and a
PDF of the actual poster. Presenters should make sure their final printed posters are received by the
SSA Registration Desk at the Westin Seattle Hotel no later than 12:00 noon on October 1, 2014. All
posters will be on display in a gallery throughout the duration of the annual meeting.
Venue
Seattle (the “Emerald City”) is the host city for the 39th SSA Annual Meeting. Seattle is one of the most
beautiful and fastest-growing cities of North America. It was named after the prominent Native
American figure Chief “Seathle,” who creatively dealt with the paradox of accommodating white settlers
with Native Americans through a robust call for ecological responsibility. The Seattle metropolitan area
is the home of leading companies such as Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, and Starbucks.
The Annual Meeting will take place at The Westin Seattle Hotel, 1900 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101
in the heart of downtown. The Westin Hotel has exceptional amenities and is within walking distance of
the Seattle Art Museum (SAM), Seattle Symphony (Benaroya Hall), Pike Place Market, and the
beautiful waterfront.
To make your room reservations, please go to:
https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/2014SemioticSociety or call the Reservations Department at
1-888-627-8513. We encourage you to make your reservation by August 22, 2014. After this date, it
will be at the Westin’s discretion whether to accept reservations, which will be subject to prevailing
rates and availability. The single or double room SSA special rate is $195.00 per night, including
complimentary guest-room wireless Internet access.
Registration and Fees
Please note that in accordance with Article 4, Section 4 of the SSA Constitution: “Only Individual,
Student, and Honorary members in good standing may offer papers to the Program Committee for oral
presentation at meetings of the Society.” Membership must be in good standing at or before the time of
abstract submission.
Registration Fees:
• SSA Membership Dues (Regular) $50.00
• SSA Membership Dues (Student) $30.00
• Conference Registration Fee (Regular) $150.00 (late registration $175.00 after August 17, 2014)
• Conference Registration Fee (Student) $70.00 (late registration $85.00 after August 17, 2014)
• Pre-Conference Seminars/Workshops Fee $30.00 (access to all seminars/workshops)
Meals Fee (includes the following): $100.00
• Breakfast (3 days)
• Lunch (3 days)
• All-day Beverage Service (3 days)
• Plated Dinner (1 night)
• Welcome Reception with hors d’oeuvres and wine/beer/sodas
To register, please go to: http://www.pdcnet.org/conferences/ssa-2014.htm or call: +01-434-220-3300,
Toll Free: 1-800-444-2419 (US & Canada).
For more information, please visit: http://www.semioticsocietyofamerica.org
The 2014 Program Committee is looking forward to an extraordinary event this year and
to welcoming you in Seattle!
2014 Program Committee
Farouk Y. Seif, Chair and Organizer
Professor Emeritus, Antioch University Seattle
Robert S. Hatten
Professor, The University of Texas
Prisca Augustyn
Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University
Karen Haworth
Office Administrator, University of West Florida
Gilad Elbom
Instructor, Oregon State University
Linda V. Nurra
Independent Scholar, St. Barbara, California
Mariana Bockarova
Ph.D. Student, Harvard University
Adam A. Ferguson
Ph.D. Student, Binghamton University
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