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.

Call for Papers on Tarot and Divination, Literature

Tarot and Other Methods of Divination
All Proposals & Abstracts Must Be Submitted Through The PCA Database.
Please submit a proposal to only one area at a time. Exceptions and rules

 CALL FOR PAPERS

The “Tarot and Other Methods of Divination” area is open to proposals for papers on a diverse range of divination methods: astrology, I Ching, runes, tarot, etc. Approaches may include the biographical, historical, and theoretical, as well as the analysis of professional practice and of representations in literature (poetry, prose, drama), visual art (painting, sculpture, tarot cards, comics, graphic novels), film, television, games, etc.

In addition, I am looking for participants in the following 2018 sessions:

Divination Themes in Literature.
Note: Authors of papers that specifically address divination themes in mythopoeic literature are invited to submit their work to Mythlore.

“Spirit Communication: Facets and Fictions” Session participants are invited to share their research on tools and representations of tools in the arts (visual, literature, film, comics, etc.) that are used to facilitate communication with the spirit world for magical purposes, for contact with or information about the deceased, or other purposes. Such tools may be modern or historical and may include, but are not limited to, crystal balls, Ouija boards, pendulums, planchettes, mechanical devices, etc. Research focused on the materiality of three-dimensional tools and their functional and ritual operations in relation to the spirit realm is particularly welcome. Session proposal and chair: Cynthia Hogan, PhD, Ithaca College.


All conference participants should be prepared to present their work as scholarly research and/or for the benefit of an interested audience of academics.

Abstracts and proposals due no later than Oct. 1, 2017

Submissions should be made online at http://ncp.pcaaca.org.  You can find detailed instructions for doing so here and should include your CV, short biography (100-150 words), and abstract (100-250 words).

For general information about the conference, see this website. I have also posted a frequently-asked-questions page on my website with additional recommendations pertinent to the area. Please feel free to contact me if you have other questions or would like to discuss your presentation.

Emily E. Auger, PhD
Independent Scholar
Website: http://emilyeauger.weebly.com/index.html
Email: augeremily@gmail.com

Nice introduction to William Blake's debt to Swedenborg

http://css.gtu.edu/william-blake-glances-on-his-engagement-with-the-theosophy-of-emanuel-swedenborg/

“The coincidence is not a trivial one. Of all modern men the engraver’s apprentice was to grow up the likest to Emanuel Swedenborg; already by constitutional temperament and endowment was so: in faculty for theosophic dreaming, for the seeing of visions while broad awake, and in matter of fact hold of spiritual things.  To savant and to artist alike, while yet on earth, the Heavens were opened.” (Life of William Blake, Alexander Gilchrist, p. 15)

Prometheus Trust Conference: “Deep Philosophy, Deep Ecology”

PROMETHEUS TRUST TWELFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE 

TO BE HELD ON 7-9 JULY 2017

AT PURLEY CHASE CENTRE, MANCETTER, WARWICKSHIRE CV9 2RQ

“Deep Philosophy, Deep Ecology”

Philosophy in the west – especially in its English-speaking part – has been considered an isolated and private venture, with little influence upon the way in which societies conduct themselves: like Earth itself in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, its description hovers between “harmless” and “mostly harmless”.  But is this really the case?  Can we trace today’s ecological crisis to the philosophy (or philosophies) adopted consciously or unconsciously in recent centuries?  Perhaps the errors embedded within it are now revealed as very far from harmless – in fact a flawed philosophy may be the most toxic thing known to humankind.

Deep ecology – the view that solutions to the ecological crisis are to be found in a radical revision of humankind’s understanding of itself, the world in which it lives, and their mutual relation – has much to be commended.  Deep ecologists argue that superficial changes in patterns of consumption while we retain an underlying view that we are set apart as the active and rational rulers and consumers of an irrational and passive world of materiality will not solve our ecological crisis.

But if we are to reject an inadequate philosophical worldview, how are we to find a better and more truthful one?  Can we find a philosophy from which a truly wide-ranging justice can emerge?  Perhaps we must wipe the philosophical slate clean and start again from the very beginning, or perhaps we may find in neglected philosophies from our past the key to the righting of relations between ourselves and the rest of reality.  This is a challenge we cannot ignore without the gravest consequences to ourselves and our fellow companions on Earth.  But although the task is great, the rewards of success are also great: it may be that a philosophy which addresses the needs of deep ecology will also contribute to the solution of other more purely human problems which now press upon us.

This notice represents a call for papers and presentations on this theme from all those interested in the subject, from whatever background or discipline – academic and non-academic, specialist and non-specialist.

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and should be sent to conference@prometheustrust.co.uk at the latest by Friday, 7 April 2017.  Acceptance of these will be confirmed as quickly as possible.  

Papers should be around 2500-3000 words or 20 minutes’ presentation (we usually allow a further 15-20 minutes for a question and answer session after each presentation).

Bookings should be received by us not later than Saturday, 29 April 2017.

The Trustees are delighted to announce that the Thomas Taylor Lecture will be given by Professor Kevin Corrigan.  The keynote speaker is yet to be arranged.

The formal conference begins with a keynote address on the Friday evening (the 7th) but we hope to arrange a "round table" day on the Friday for those able to attend - and overnight accommodation will be available on the Thursday 6th.  A round table day will, we hope, enable those who would like to make a contribution to the general discussion to do so without going through the process of producing a formal paper.  Do write and tell us if this is of interest to you.