CFP: ‘Memory in a Memory-Less Age’
Sunday 7th to Tuesday 9th Sept 2008
Peterhouse, University of Cambridge
Proposals for papers (30 minutes duration) are invited on the theme, for a conference organised by the Centre for the Study of Jewish–Christian relations to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Centre. Papers may be presented from a variety of disciplinary approaches that illustrate the theme with reference to the study of Jewish – Christian relations. Proposals, containing a title and an abstract of no more than 250 words, should be submitted by December 1st 2007 to Dr James Aitken (jka12@cam.ac.uk), CJCR, Wesley House, Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BJ UK. In conjunction with the conference, artistic events will be held, both throughout the year and at the time of the conference.
The Theme
‘Memory in a Memory-Less Age’
Remembrance has been a central theme in Jewish–Christian relations, and a major justification for teaching the issue. However, how do we respond to this imperative to remember when instantaneous is preferred to long-lasting information, and when remembrance has become such a sensitive issue between generations? It is often said that 'today’s news is tomorrow’s chip paper’, but the birth of the MTV generation and its finite, channel-hopping attention span has heralded a new style of reporting and recording. With the need for instantaneous gratification and an ever-increasing information overload, where and how much history is actually being recorded, preserved, remembered?
Topics that might be covered include:
Memorial days and memorialisation
Interfaith Education and the internet
The internet as a means or an obstacle to remembrance
Education and the teaching of History
The psychology of remembrance
Memory in film and the Arts
Virtual Judaism
Dr James Aitken
Academic Director
Centre for the Study of Jewish–Christian Relations
Wesley House
Jesus Lane
Cambridge CB5 8BJ
Phone: (0044 1223) 742 157
Email: jka12@cam.ac.uk
Visit the website at http://www.woolfinstitute.cam.ac.uk/cjcr/
