[Discussion] CFP: Eighth International Conference on Contemporary Theory (India) (8/1/05; 12/14/05-12/17/05)

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

Eighth International Conference
Mangalore University (India)
14-17 December 2005

Topic: "The Art and Politics of Subversion: Theory in a Counter-Mode"


CALL FOR PAPERS

The eighth international conference of the Forum on Contemporary Theory
will be held in Mangalore, 14-17 December 2005, in collaboration with
the Department of English, Mangalore University. The theme of the
conference, "The Art and Politics of Subversion: Theory in a
Counter-Mode," continues the debate initiated at the Vizag conference
in 2004, focusing on the dialogic encounter between the discourse of
high Theory and what could be called its "double" in its popular
manifestation. It seeks to explore in some detail how Theory's
dominance as an exclusive academic discipline seems to have been
undermined through its own proliferation in the market of commodity
fetishization. But what may appear to be its dilution has in fact
become a symptom of Theory's greater accessibility and transmission
across cultures. This is visible in the very language in which Theory
now circulates in its many forms. One could see even in Derrida's
later writings the sign of such a linguistic transformation indicating
his inclination toward some kind of expressive intelligibility. The
Bakhtinian notion of dialogism germane to every culture seems true in
the case of Theory as well. In its essentially subversive nature Theory
has not only critiqued the European legacies of the "metaphysics of
presence" but has brought to the fore the underside of those legacies
hidden under their more visible aspects. Paul de Man in his well-known
essay "Resistance to Theory" seems to have expressed his uneasiness
at such a "flourishing" of Theory in the sub-culture of the
market-place, away from the sanctuary of the classroom.

The conference will attempt to examine the conditions under which such
a " flourishing" has taken place, the implications for such
proliferation for Theory itself and its academic relevance, the nature
and modes of such proliferation and their cultural significance. It may
sound paradoxical, but it seems true that Theory as a holistic
enterprise has provided conditions for its own deconstruction by
encouraging subversion as its desired goal, thereby re-generating itself
through its descent from its  self-imposed loftiness to the level of
public participation by exploring its playful and comic potential. The
ascendancy of the "popular" manifested in various cultural and aesthetic
forms seems to signal that Theory has found its appropriate
articulation. We shall explore how this counter-mode has been able to
re-direct the energies of Theory into its ludic direction, thus opening
itself up to useful social and cultural appropriation. Through such
devices as political cartoons, fictional parody and burlesque, comic
strips and kitsch, colonial mimicry, carnivalesque laughter, play and
games, anecdotes as interventions, exploration of the body in its
performative acts and such other devices, Theory is ubiquitous in its
panoply of self-constitutive subversion. This kind of subversion is both
ideological, as it is aimed against high theory's valorization of
linguistic opacity and artistic as it exploits the material already
available in the field of Theory, extending its boundary so that its
relevance to the world at large is not lost. The works of Huizinga and
Bakhtin could be used as conceptual tools for throwing more light on
this aspect of Theory's other face. It is important to understand what
happens to Theory when it circulates through media and popular art
forms, or when Theory creates its own travesties.

Papers, mostly of conceptual nature, supported by textual examples, are
welcome. Mere textual analysis without any broad framework will not be
entertained.

Special Sessions: A special panel on a regional text will be one of the
highlights of the conference. This year's choice for the panel is the
Kannada Play Tale-Danda by Girish Karnad. Tale-Danda, translated into
English by the author himself, is published by Ravi Dayal (New Delhi,
1999).  Set in the 12th century, the play depicts through its multiple
levels of subversion how the protagonist Basavanna, a Brahmin himself,
tries to bring about social change  through revolts against the Vedic
practices and caste system but can not succeed in transforming that
society.

Another special session, which will be a continuing feature from now
on, will focus on the State of the Discipline. Scholars representing
various humanities and social science disciplines will examine the
nature of developments in their respective disciplines and comment upon
their future direction.

Submission deadline: 500-word abstracts or proposals are due by  August
1, 2005. Complete papers should be limited to 12 pages (approximately 20
minutes reading time). A longer version may be submitted for possible
publication in the Journal of Contemporary Thought, brought out by the
Forum, or in the conference volume. The completed paper should reach the
Convener of the Forum by October 30. Submissions from outside India
should be e-mailed to raths@cwu.edu.

Registration deadline: September 5, 2005. All participants need to be
pre-registered.

1. Participant from India (non-member)			Rs 2500.00
2. Participant from India (member of the Forum)		Rs 2000.00
3. Overseas Participant (SAARC countries) 		$100.00
4. Overseas Participants (non-SAARC countries)		$150.00
5. Local Participant (non-member) 			Rs 800.00
6. Local Participant (member of the Forum)		Rs 700.00
7. Student Participant (from Mangalore University)	Rs 200.00

The registration fee covers room and board for 4 days. The fee from the
local participants will cover lunch, conference tea, and other
conference material. The fee must be paid through a bank draft payable
to Forum on Contemporary Theory on a bank in Baroda. The amount may be
sent to: Prafulla  Kar, Convener of the Forum, Centre for Contemporary
Theory, 301-302 Shiv Shakti Complex, 84 Sampatrao Colony, R.C. Dutt
Road, Baroda 390007, India.

Sightseeing Tours: Those who sign up to go on a local tour on December
14 will be charged a small extra fee to be determined by the local
hosts. The city tour will cover the important places in Mangalore and
the famous Bekal Fort in the neighboring Kerala.

Mangalore is located on the west coast of India, in the state of
Karnataka, between Goa and Kerala. It is connected by air from Mumbai
and Bangalore and by train to major cities in the country. Besides,
there are frequent bus services from Bangalore, Goa and Cochin (Kochi).
It is famous for its temples and beaches. One can visit Udupi (65 kms),
famous for its South Indian cuisine and Krishna Temple; Malpe Beach and
St. Mary's Island; Mookambika Temple at Kollur (110 kms). One can
visit Goa and Kerala before or after the conference.

Mangalore University was founded in 1969. It is located in the village
of Konaje, a picturesque setting for an academic institution. It is 18
km. away from the city of Mangalore. There are frequent bus services
between the city and the University campus. Most of the participants
will be accommodated in the city.

For further information, please contact any of the following:

Prafulla C. Kar and Parul Dave Mukherji, Conveners
Forum on Contemporary Theory
Centre for Contemporary Theory
301-302 Shiv Shakti Complex, 84 Sampatrao  Colony, R.C. Dutt Road,
Baroda 390007
Tel: 0265-2338067 (res.); 0265- 2351323 (res.); 0265-5522512 (off.)
Email: pck@satyam.net.in; paruldm@icenet.net

Kishori Nayak and R. Shashidhar
Department of English and Joint Coordinators of the Conference
Mangalore University
Mangalagongothri, Karnataka 574199
Tel: 0824-5514810 (res.); 0824- 2287120 (res.) 0824-2287381 (off.)
Email: kishorinayak@rediffmail.com; english@mangaloreuniversity.ac.in
             hostshashi@yahoo.com


Sura P. Rath, Director
The William O. Douglas Honors College
Central Washington University
Language & Literature Building, #103B
400 East University Way
Ellensbu-rg, WA 98926-7521

Phone: 509-963-1440
Fax:      509-963-1206
Email:   raths@cwu.edu




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