[Discussion] Call for Papers: RETHINKING THE CLASSICAL (Istanbul)

[sule tarakcioglu]

H-TURK@H-NET.MSU.EDU
From: YUNUS UGUR <yugur@binghamton.edu>

Call For Papers

RETHINKING THE CLASSICAL

International Symposium

Istanbul, October 8-10, 2004


What is a classic?

What are the characteristics of a classic?

Is the classical supra-civilizational?

Can classics be transplanted across cultures?

What is the significance of classics in the history of civilizations?


Reinterpretation of classics plays a significant role in civilizational
transformation. Building cross-cultural bridges, classics constitute the
primary intellectual ground for inter-civilizational encounter. 
Especially in this time of great transformations and globalization, the 
question of the classical remains as a challenge to the Islamic, Western 
and other world civilizations.

The Center for Civilizational Studies (Medeniyet Arastirmalari Merkezi) 
of the Foundation for Sciences and Arts (Bilim ve Sanat Vakfi), 
Istanbul, organizes an international symposium on the question of the 
classical and canonization in the history of civilizations. The Islamic, 
Western, and the Ottoman-Turkish experiences will be the primary focus 
of the symposium. The Foundation for Sciences and Arts invites all the 
interested scholars to present papers on any of the following and other 
related topics:

What is a classic?


Canonization process: how and why?
- Historico-political context
- Textbooks
- Encyclopedias
- Commentaries
- Refutations
- Popular classics
- New classics

Mentality and methodology in reading the classics
- Orientalism
- Traditionalism
- Modernism
- Postmodernism

Publication of the classics
- Critical editions as the discovery of the classics
- Translation of the classics
- Publishing the classics in Turkey and in the world

Impact of the classics
- Translation movements and their consequences
- Intellectual transformation
- Classics in education
- Curricula

Classics and civilizations
- Conceptions of the classical in different civilizations
- Formative classics of civilizations
- Common classics of civilizations
- Universality and the classics

Classics in the Islamic sciences

Classics in the humanities and social sciences

Classics in natural sciences

Classics in arts and letters


Symposium place: Bilim ve Sanat Vakfi, Vefa / Istanbul

Date: October 8-10, 2004

Deadline for abstracts: May 31, 2004.

Deadline for final papers: September 10, 2004.

Application: Paper proposals including an abstract (not exceeding 250 
words) can be made through mail, fax, e-mail, or via the web site of the 
foundation at www.bisav.org.tr <http://www.bisav.org.tr/>

Notice to the participants: Accommodation will be provided. Papers will 
be published in a special symposium book.

Address for communication:

Bilim ve Sanat Vakfi
Medeniyet Arastirmalari Merkezi
Vefa cad. No:35 34314 Vefa ISTANBUL

Tel: 0212 5282222
Fax: 0212 5133220
E-mail:  <mailto:mam@bisav.org.tr> mam@bisav.org.tr

For further contact:
Dr. Sami Erdem
<mailto:samierdem@bisav.org.tr> samierdem@bisav.org.tr

Yunus Ugur,  <mailto:uguryunu@boun.edu.tr> uguryunu@boun.edu.tr
Visiting Research Scholar
SUNY-Binghamton University, NY, USA.
Department of History
Ph.D. Candidate
Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Department of History
You can also send your e-mails to  <mailto:yugur@binghamton.edu>
yugur@binghamton.edu