[Discussion] "Sexuality After Foucault"

[Gonul]

University of Manchester
Centre for the Study of Sexuality and Culture
Conference Announcement

SEXUALITY AFTER FOUCAULT
November 28-30, 2003


CALL FOR PAPERS
In 2003 the University of Manchester will launch an interdisciplinary,
multi-disciplinary, and cross-faculty Centre for the Study of Sexuality
and
Culture, with a particular focus on the relationships between sexuality,

culture and history.  To mark the establishment of the Centre at
Manchester,
and to foster a stimulating intellectual exchange between UK researchers
and
scholars elsewhere, we propose an international conference on "Sexuality

After Foucault."

Next year also marks the 25th anniversary of the translation into
English of
Michel Foucaultıs History of Sexuality, vol. 1.  Sexuality and gender
studies have been dominated by the claims and assumptions of Foucault,
though of late some scholars have suggested that the time is long
overdue to
explore new paradigms and approaches.  The purpose of this conference is
to
debate the continuing relevance of Foucault's work in a changing
historical
context, to assess its strengths and limitations, and to develop new
theoretical approaches to the study of sexuality.

Some confirmed speakers include: Carolyn Dinshaw (New York University),
David Halperin (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), Don Kulick (New York

University), Cindy Patton (Simon Fraser University), Valerie Traub
(University of Michigan), and Jeffrey Weeks (South Bank University).

We invite submissions of panel proposals or individual papers from any
disciplinary background which might address, but need not be limited to,
the
following topics and questions:
SEXUALITY, HISTORY AND MODERNITY
Foucaultıs account of sexuality relies on a specific understanding of
history and the Enlightenment which has been challenged from various
positions.  Does Foucaultıs historicism need revising?  What other
discursive forces contribute towards our understanding of sexuality?
Has
Foucaultıs work neglected to consider (other) material pressures on
sexuality?  Are sexological categories and reverse discourses still
relevant
to the 21st century?

SEXUALITY AND ŒGLOBALIZATIONı
Foucaultıs work relates to a specifically Western context.  In what ways
do
cultural interactions force us to revise this perspective?  What are the

effects of an increasingly Œintegratedı capitalist world order on the
disciplining of sexuality?  What forms of resistance are possible?

GENDER, TRANSGENDER, TRANSSEXUALITY AND SEXUAL IDENTITY
Foucaultıs work has been accused of being gender blind.  More recently,
studies of sexology have challenged the view that the category of Œthe
homosexualı referred simply to same-sex attraction and not gender
orientation.  What are the (changing) relationships between sexual
identification and gender identification?  What tensions exist between
queer/transgender politics and transsexual claims?  Are we witnessing a
return to essentialism?

SEXUALITY AND REPRESENTATION
Do sexual identities continue to determine sexual representation?  Are
we
witnessing the emergence of post-gay, post-lesbian or even post-queer
cultural production?  Is it still meaningful to talk about a distinction

between sexual subcultures and dominant cultures?  Are cultural
representations accountable to subcultural formations?

SEXUALITY AND ETHICS
Foucaultıs second and third volumes on sexuality articulated an ethics
absent from his earlier work.  How adequate are his reflections on
sexual
ethics?  What is the relationship between sexual ethics and sexual
politics?
What are the ethical limits of sexual dissidence?


PANEL ORGANIZERS
We particularly welcome panel proposals.  Please organize your
submission as
follows:
* session title
* name of organizer, institutional affiliation, discipline or
department,
postal address, phone number and email address
* chairıs name, institutional affiliation, discipline or department,
postal
address, phone number and email address
* panelistsı names, paper titles, institutional affiliations,
disciplines or
departments and full contact information (including email address)
* a 500-word abstract describing the rationale of the panel and content
of
individual papers

INDIVIDUAL PAPERS
Please organize your submission as follows:
* an abstract of between 200 and 300 words for a 20 minute paper
* a short biographical statement of up to 100 words
* institutional affiliation, discipline or department, postal address,
phone
number and email address

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS  & PAPERS:   28th MARCH 2003

Proposals may be sent by post or email to:
Dr Laura Doan,            or        Dr David Alderson,
Womenıs Studies Centre,                Dept of English and American
Studies,
Roscoe Building,                    Arts Faculty,
University of Manchester,                University of Manchester,
Oxford Road,                        Oxford Road,
Manchester, M13 9PL                    Manchester, M13 9PL
UK                            UK
laura.doan@man.ac.uk                david.alderson@man.ac.uk

Selected papers from the conference will be published in a special
edition
of GLQ.