Call for Papers: Apparitions and Revolutions

The Department of Historical Studies at the University of Turin is issuing a call for
papers for a conference on “Apparitions and revolutions: The public use of
hierophanies in political and social transformations from late antiquity to contemporary
times” to be held in Turin on 7-9 November 2018. The intent is to ascertain, in a very
broad geographical (Europe and elsewhere) and chronological context (Late Antiquity
– the 20th century), if and how revolutions have been accompanied by hierophanic
phenomena (Mariophanies, christophanies, hagiophanies...). In this case revolution is
understood as any political, social, economic, cultural or religious transformation that
has profound and lasting consequences on the historical context in which it took place.
Naturally, we do not intend to make a catalog of apparitions (individual or collective)
associated with moments of rupture in the established order; rather, the idea is to draw
on significant case studies to grasp the forms, times and dynamics characterizing the
public use of hierophanies occurring in different geographic and political spaces. With
this in mind, the conference welcomes contributions ranging from political and
religious history to cultural studies and the history of ways of thinking. Proposals
displaying particularly broad analytical approaches (in terms of both chronology and
geography) will be given priority.
Proposals must be between 1,000 and 2,000 characters, to be presented in Italian,
French, English or Spanish, and accompanied by the applicant’s CV; they will be
assessed by the Scientific Committee. The texts of the articles for presentation at the
conference must be submitted for publication by 31 January 2019, without exception.
Expenses associated with participation in the conference are to be covered by the
applicants; upon request, the conference organizers reserve the right to possibly cover
accommodation costs for specifically junior researchers during their stay in Turin.
The deadline for proposal submissions (please send to paolo.cozzo@unito.it
with the subject “Apparitions and revolutions”) is 31 December 2017.