CFP: 6th Annual Literary London Conference (2007)
URL: http://www.literarylondon.org/cfp.html
The 6th Annual Literary London conference will be hosted by the Department of English University of Westminster, London, at their 309 Regent Street building. (http://www.wmin.ac.uk/page-42). Originally founded as the Polytechnic Institution by Sir George Cayley, a higher education building has stood at this site in the West End of London since 1838.
London is one of the world's major cities with a long and rich literary tradition reflecting both its diversity and its significance as a cultural and commercial centre. Literary London 2007 aims to:
- Read literary and dramatic texts in their historical and social context and in relation to theoretical approaches to the study of the metropolis.
- Investigate the changing cultural and historical geography of London.
- Consider the social, political, and spiritual fears, hopes, and perceptions that have inspired representations of London.
- Trace different traditions of representing London and examine how the pluralism of London society is reflected in London literature and drama.
- Celebrate the contribution London and Londoners have made to English literature
Proposals are invited for 20-minute papers which consider any period or genre of English literature about, set in, inspired by, or alluding to central and suburban London and its environs, from the city's roots in pre-Roman times to the present day.
While proposals on all topics and periods of London literature are encouraged, given the historical associations of Westminster's Regent Campus and the immediate area as a whole, this year we would especially welcome paper or panel proposals on the theme of the theatre and performance.
Questions that might be addressed are: How has London been represented in theatre and performance from the middle ages to the present day? What role has the physical fabric of theatres, theatre companies and their associated institutions played in the life of London? How has London's theatrical life figured in theatrical and non-theatrical writing - as something useful and instructive, or as something dangerous and corrupting? Is there a sense in which literary and other texts suggest that London is a site of performance or itself in some way a type of performance? What role have different theatrical traditions (including such 'marginal' ones as clowning, street theatre, pantomime) played in the life of London? We welcome papers about
the theatre and performance from central London to the suburbs and the streets.
Though the main focus of the conference will be on literary, dramatic and performance texts, we actively encourage interdisciplinary contributions relating film, architecture, geography, theories of urban space, etc., to literary/dramatic representations of London. Papers from postgraduate
students are welcome for consideration.
Abstracts of 200 words for 20-minute papers by 28th February 2007 to: contact@literarylondon.org or the postal address below.
Proposals for panels of three speakers are also welcome.
Dr Lawrence Phillips (University of Northampton) and Dr Brycchan Carey
(Kingston
University),
Literary London Organising Committee
Department of English
School of Arts,
University of Northampton,
Avenue Campus,
St Georges Avenue,
Northampton,
NN2 6JD
Telephone:
FAX
E-mail: contact@literarylondon.org
Web site: www.literarylondon.org
The Annual Literary London conference is mutually supportive of the
e-journal of the same name.
