Hi friends,
This is a reminder that the Open Call for Proposals for the Fourth World Congress of Psychogeography ends this week, Sunday 20th May!
The congress will take place 7-8 Sept 2018 in and around Huddersfield, W. Yorks.
V A G U E T E R R A I N
This year’s 4th World Congress of Psychogeography will explore – physically and mentally – the unsettling limbo between the urban and rural, public and private, real and unreal that we dub Vague Terrain.
We invite proposals for walks, talks and other interpretations of Vague Terrain. You might consider one or more of the following angles (but the list is far from exhaustive):
- Vague Terrain as a place of mystery and mysticism and subliminal innuendo
- Vague Terrain as a source of artistic inspiration
- Vague Terrain in relation to class, race, gender and ethnicity
- Denizens of Vague Terrain – who chooses to be there and who is forced to be there?
- In a world which is driving us mad is Vague Terrain a therapeutic landscape?
- Psychogeographic interpretation of the ecology of Vague Terrain
- The threats posed by new planning laws and mass house-building and possible responses
- New housing estate identities - what is it like to live in a place recently taken out of Vague Terrain?
- Bastard heritage – historic landscapes whose history is disputed/dismissed by the heritage industry
Last year the World Congress was very well attended with 100+ people from around the globe participating in three days of psychogeography. Alternate years will see a large congress and a small congress - this year the Congress is in the small cycle and will run over two days.
Proposals for Friday 7 September - The Conference Programme
Should be prepared with the intention of being staged within or nearby Heritage Quay in central Huddersfield (
http://heritagequay.org/) They could be in the form of a lecture, audio-visual presentation, interview/conversation, panel discussion or an outdoor walk or exposition, to fit a one hour or two hour time-slot. Heritage Quay has an auditorium and a smaller workshop space available. The audience might be more academic-focused in nature on Friday.
Proposals for Saturday 8 September - The Festival Programme
Should be prepared with the intention of being staged in various (outdoor or indoor) locations within an area known as the Colne Valley. This is an eight-mile stretch between central Huddersfield and Tunnel End, A special feature of this landscape is that most residential development lies on plateaux and hilltops with the exception of the industrial villages of Paddock, Milnsbridge, Linthwaite, Slaithwaite and Marsden in the valley bottom. However much of the river valley is post-industrial scrub, whilst the true edgelands are quite literally the edges and steep slopes of the hills and valley sides.
The plan of the day is for events to be offered in a rolling succession along the valley enabling participants and audiences to start the day in Huddersfield and end in Marsden. There are frequent rail and bus connections and if possible there may be private transport to ensure connections from one place to another. Information will be posted on the 4wcop website in terms of bus and train arrival and departure times.
Looking forward to hearing your ideas and seeing you in the Autumn!
