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<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%">Staging the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place> in Theatre and Through Performance<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center>Department of Theatre<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">California</st1:PlaceName>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Riverside</st1:City></st1:place></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><st1:date w:st="on" Month="4" Day="3" Year="2009">April 3 – 4, 2009</st1:date></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center>CALL FOR PAPERS</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center>Conference Convener: Dr. Erith Jaffe-Berg</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><A href="mailto:erithj@ucr.edu">erithj@ucr.edu</A> </B><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">(9</SPAN>51) 827-4418</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><I>We are caught in nets of bewildering and puzzling interdependencies. <o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><I>The claims of cultures to retain their individuality in the fact of such<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><I>interdependencies can be realized only through risky dialogues with <o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><I>other cultures that can lead to estrangement and contestation as well <o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><I>as comprehension and mutual learning.<o:p></o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><I><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 7"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></I>(Seyla Benhabib)</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><I><o:p> </o:p></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%">With this observation Seyla Benhabib begins her book <I>The Claims of Culture: Equality and Diversity in the Global Era</I>. This conference aims to facilitate the conversation by<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> investigating ways in which various performance practices and theatre produced in the Middle East, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region> and other places simulates, represents, recognizes and challenges narratives of the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%">The theatre has become an important venue, vying as it does with other media in “staging” the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place>. The use of the term “staging” suggests a self-awareness on the part of artist or audience about the representation of the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place>. With its multiple communicative mechanisms, the theatre exploits the spectrum that ranges from the supposed “real” to the “put on.” The very materiality of this representation or “put on” --<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>bodies and languages --<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>become central issues in contemporary staging of the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place>. This conference is aimed at exploring how theatre and other performance contexts, including performance art, spoken word, and digital media have critically engaged in the staging of the Middle East and its peoples, cultures and conflicts. Among the topics that may be addressed in papers proposed for the conference are the following:</P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1">Pre and post-9/11 constructions of the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place> in theatre and drama.</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1">Comparisons of different performative contexts in terms of how they represent<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1">Comparative analysis of theatre companies in creating new paradigms for representing the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1">Detailed descriptions of the productions, analysis of company-issued statements, accounting of audience demographics and responses to dramas created about the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1">Translations and adaptations of Middle Eastern plays and television shows into other contexts and vice versa </LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1">the representation of Muslim women in the pre- and<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>post -9/11 theatre</LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1">Plays and performances by Muslim-Americans and/or Arab-Americans and the representation of exilic identities and intercultural hybridities</LI></UL>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2">Critical differentiations between theatre and other media in terms of how they address questions regarding the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2">Self-conscious strategies in the staging of the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Please send an abstract and contact information to the convener no later than <st1:date w:st="on" Month="10" Day="15" Year="2008">October 15, 2008</st1:date>. Proposals will be accepted either through email attachment or post. Notifications of acceptance will be made in November.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Dr. Erith Jaffe-Berg</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Department of Theatre</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">California</st1:PlaceName>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Riverside</st1:City></st1:place></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Riverside</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">CA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">92521</st1:PostalCode></st1:place></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>erithj@ucr.edu</P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P><BR>
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