Wartime Shakespeare in a Global Context

[yana meerzon]

CALL FOR PAPERS
Wartime Shakespeare in a Global Context/
Shakespeare au temps de la guerre
 University of Ottawa, September 18-21, 2009
Fought on every continent except Antarctica, the Second World War offers a unique, temporally limited but geographically inclusive period in which to analyse and probe the role and significance of the theatre in times of extreme social duress.   As the most frequently performed and translated playwright in the world, Shakespeare is arguably one of the most useful touchstones for examining a range of issues and questions brought to the fore during wartime which this international conference -- coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the declaration of war --- aims to address: 
 
What can the classics and, more broadly, theatre offer people suffering under the horrific conditions of war?  How does culture (both as an anthropological and as an aesthetic concept) change in wartime?  Are some aesthetic genres and modes more conducive than others in such a period?  How effective is the imposition from “above” of aesthetic criteria or of particular works? How do ordinarily benign artistic productions suddenly become usable, even necessary, as political propaganda? How are claims about the universality of authors revised or revisited in wartime when special pressures and demands are placed on literary and dramatic work?   How are issues of character and poetic language dealt with in circumstances which require collective, not individualistic, thought? What kind of relationship develops between “world classics” and indigenous canons of theatre and literature in wartime?  How do issues of gender, class, or political formation play into these debates?  Post-colonialism?  Translation?  Adaptation?  How do terms like “high” and “low” art function in wartime?  In periods of post-war reconstruction?  Where does the issue of globalization fit?  Do answers to any of  these questions about the Second World War still hold true today?
 
The Organizing Committee especially encourages comparative and interdisciplinary submissions. A 250 word abstract of proposed papers, along with a brief curriculum vitae, must be submitted electronically (preferably in Word or Rich Text format) by 1 November 2008 either in English or in French to the Organizing Committee care of  Professor Irene (Irena) Makaryk at makaryk at uottawa.ca .  Selected conference papers will be published in a special volume. Pending a successful grant application, limited funding will be available for graduate students.  
 
The Organizing Committee:
Irene (Irena) R. Makaryk, Chair of the Organizing Committee, Department of English 
Yana Meerzon, Département de théâtre/Department of Theatre
Tibor Egervari, Département de theatre/Department of Theatre
Jeff Keshen, Département d’histoire/Department of History 
Annie Brisset, École de traduction et d’ interprétation/Department of Translation and Interpretation
Marissa McHugh, graduate student, Department of English
Yana Meerzon, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Department of Theatre
University of Ottawa,135 Seraphin-Marion St. Room 304BOttawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canadatel. 613-562-5800 ext.2243; yana.meerzon at uottawa.ca 
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