CFP Scenography Working Group of IFTR and Theatre Institute Prague June 2007

[David Vivian]

CALL FOR PAPERS
THE NEW SPACE OF AUTHENTICITY
PRAGUE 17-18-19 JUNE 2007

The Scenography Working Group of the International Federation of
Theatre Research in special collaboration with the Theatre Institute in 
Prague will
meet on the occasion of the Prague Quadrennial in Prague in June of 2007. 
The
Prague Quadrennial will be held June 14-24, 2007.

The Prague Quadrennial is the pre-eminent international meeting of 
practitioners,
architects, and students of scenography. Held every four years under the 
auspices of the
Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and the Theatre Institute in 
Prague, this event
provides for the rich exchange of ideas and creative discourse on many 
levels.

The Commissioner of the Prague Quadrennial in 2007, the noted scholar and
author of many volumes on scenographic history and practice, Professor 
Arnold Aronson
is encouraging the meetings of international theatre organizations during 
the Prague
Quadrennial. Following the successful conference held during the PQ in 2003, 
the
Scenography Working Group is delighted to collaborate with other 
organizations such as
the Theatre Architecture Working Group of the IFTR and the Theatre Institute 
in 2007. It
is our intention to participate in a collaborative series of events among 
these groups
(including public presentations) with the purpose of providing a forum for 
exchange
among researchers and practitioners gathered for the PQ.

In this period of new realities for theatre and performance practice and 
study in
the Central and Eastern European Communities, and in order to capitalize 
upon the
presence of a record number of participating countries at the PQ in 2007, 
the Conveners
of Scenography Working Group are inviting proposals of interest addressing 
the topic of:

THE NEW SPACE OF AUTHENTICITY

The Scenography Working Group proposes to organize the meeting around the
following questions, all of which address the central question: what is at 
stake in
constructing the 'authentic'?
- In the post-communist world, how do we re-assemble our identities in the 
reorganization
of the European continent and its relationship to the East and West.
How de we determine a new authenticity? How is it manufactured in 
scenographic
practice?
- How and why is 'authenticity' used as a fiction to underwrite particular 
agendas
(e.g. nation states, period style, conventions of theatre performance)?
- How do we make our traditions comprehensible in a world of 'globalizing
forces', and how is this manifest in scenographic practice?
- How does the scenographic event respond to the concepts of authenticity?
- How and why does the search for the 'authentic' inform local scenographic
practice and how can it be distinct from cosmopolitan model? Or does it need 
to
be?
- What is the significance of authenticity for a discipline rooted in 
material artefacts
(e.g. set, lighting, sound, costume, etc).
- How does the visual text 'tell' a story (or influence particular responses 
to the
theoretical event)?
- How might theatre and its infrastructure as a heritage site, touristic 
performance
and site, community event, or even dystopic vision establish new 
signification in
the theatre practice of the eastern European and other regions?

Proposals should relate to one or more of the above questions. Interested
researchers and practitioners should forward their proposal of 200-250 words 
and an
accompanying 150 word biography (with their institutional affiliations). 
Proposals will be
accepted in both English and French. Nous sommes très heureux à accueillir 
les
propositions en français. Presentations will be time-limited and would 
normally be
accompanied be the desired audio-visual media. All presenters will be given 
an
opportunity to participate in collegial discussion following their 
presentations.

Proposals should be sent to Dr Dominika Larionow (University of Lodz - 
Poland) at
larionow at gazeta.pl AND Professor David Vivian (Brock University - Canada) at
dvivian at brocku.ca.

We encourage you to contact us as early as possible and no later than March 
21, 2007.
Selected papers may be considered for publication.
Please note that the scheduled dates of the meeting will be confirmed.
Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to join IFTR/FIRT. For more 
information
about the benefits of membership in this pre-eminent international and 
bilingual
organization please see the website 
http://www.firt-iftr.org/firt/site/newmember.jsp.
For more information about this meeting, the call for papers, and the 
Scenography
Working Group, please see
http://www.firt-iftr.org/firt/site/workinggroupinfo.jsp?pGroupID=9
and the SWG's information website at
http://www.swg-iftr.org

-- 
David Vivian,
Assistant Professor and Scenographer

e-mail: dvivian at brocku.ca
phone: 905.688.5550 x4401
fax: 905.984.4861

Department of Dramatic Arts
School of Fine and Performing Arts
Brock University,
St. Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1.