[Bilimsel Haber] CFP: "Beyond Assimilation and Integration, " Bilkent U.

[Onur Inal]

The Program in Cultures, Civilizations and Ideas at Bilkent University is
pleased to announce a call for papers for its 6th Annual Interdisciplinary
Symposium, to occur on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March 2009 in Ankara,
Turkey.

"Beyond Assimilation and Integration: the theory and practice of identity,
difference and exchange"

* * *

How do ideas about culture, diplomacy, literature and art migrate across
historical periods and national boundaries? How are cultural, political and
artistic practices assimilated from a transient or permanent migrant
community into the society in which it finds itself? How do we begin to
answer questions of origin when considering such ideals and practices? What
are the politics of such exchange: appropriation, resistance, assimilation,
rejection, revival, performance? Do questions of identity in this context
precede questions of difference?

Taking the last millennium of dialogue between Turkey and Europe, broadly
conceived, as a case study, this interdisciplinary symposium aims to
investigate the theoretical basis and practical expression of cultural,
diplomatic and aesthetic exchange across shifting national boundaries,. From
the exchanges between Seljuk Turks and Eastern Europe in the medieval
period, to early modern cultural and diplomatic dialogues between the
Ottoman world and Western Europe, to Ottoman architecture in Europe and
contemporary Turkish/European literature and film arising from modern
migration patterns, symbiotic development of ideas and practices has left
indelible marks on these civilizations through time. It is this rich vein of
history and its implications for a theory of cultural exchange that this
symposium will consider.

The symposium will be divided into panels concerned with literature, film,
architecture and history. Abstracts for papers lasting around 20 minutes are
invited for each of these panels on any subject concerned with the period
from the early 11th century to the present, or on themes relating to the
theoretical basis of cultural exchange. Bilkent University will be happy to
provide accommodation for accepted speakers.

Email abstracts of around 500 words by January 15th 2009 to
<ccisymposium at gmail.com>. For any questions relating to the conference, 
contact Liz Disley at this address
or on +90 312 2903393.

--
Liz Disley
eldisley at bilkent.edu.tr