Call for Papers
International Workshop
Zâr and Possession Rituals: A Comparative View. Historical, Ethnographic
and Social Aspects
Käte Hamburger Kolleg, CERES, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, February 02–03, 2017
Organizers: Alexandra Cuffel ([log in to unmask]), Shahrokh Raei
([log in to unmask]), Kianoosh Rezania ([log in to unmask])
The Käte Hamburger Kolleg Dynamics in the History of Religions between
Asia and Europe (www.khk.ceres.ruhr-unibochum.de/en/about) in the Center
for Religious Studies (CERES) at the Ruhr-Universität of Bochum is engaged
in investigating the formation, expansion and historical development of
religious traditions in Europe and Asia in the time span from the first
millennium B. C. to the present time.
Within the scope of these activities we are honored to have the
opportunity to organize a workshop on possession rituals. This workshop
proposes to examine Zâr and other spirit possession rituals, in
religiously and geographically comparative contexts, in both its present
and historical manifestations. The performance of possession rituals, and
specifically Zâr, is not restricted to a specific religious tradition
since, for example, it has been performed by Jews in Maghreb as well as by
Muslim in Iran. Geographically, the phenomenon, or a series of related
phenomena which fall under the broad designation of “Zâr”, is widespread
throughout a variety of regions of Africa, parts of Asia, and later in
Europe, and the Americas. Moreover, it has been attested in different
historical periods.
Although Zâr has been studied closely in different geographical domains by
ethnographers, it has been rarely been the subject of systematic,
comparative studies. The workshop aims to fulfill this desideratum. For
this workshop, we bring together the specialists of Zâr and similar forms
of spirit possession, who have studied these rituals in different
chronological, religious, and geographical regions in order to explore
their historical connections and social aspects.
Thus we invite papers addressing any aspect of Zâr or similar forms of
spirit possession in both modern and pre-modern cultures. Papers are
invited in English. KHK will cover the transportation and accommodation
costs.
Important Dates
Your acceptance: by October 15, 2016
Title of the contribution: by December 15, 2016
Final abstract (300 words): by January 31, 2017
Workshop: February 02–03, 2017
Contact:
Organizers: Alexandra Cuffel ([log in to unmask]), Kianoosh Rezania
([log in to unmask])
Coordinator: Alexandra Redel ([log in to unmask]); +49
(0)234 32-23341
|