[csaa-forum] CFP: Cultural Transformations: Re-Assemblage (NZ) 30 November-2 December 2006

[Barry Empson]

Re-Assemblage

Fifth Annual Symposium of the Cultural Transformations Research Network
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

30 November – 2 December, 2006
Keynote Speakers

Dr Sudesh Mishra, Deakin University, Melbourne
Dr Melanie Swalwell, Victoria University of Wellington

Call for Papers

The Cultural Transformations Research Network 
invites proposals for papers that engage with the 
theme of Re-Assemblage. Papers may explore ways 
in which cultures, histories and cultural 
elements/artworks have been, or are being, 
re-assembled into different media, new locations, 
and new forms, whether in theoretical, critical, aesthetic, or social terms.

The term Re-Assemblage suggests a focus on 
contexts of heterogeneity, emergent states, 
spaces, or times, non-essentialism and 
differences, processes, relationships, tactics 
and contingency. It might call up aesthetic 
practices such as collage, pastiche, 
intertextuality, collection, or re-mediation, 
across a range of art practices. Critical 
practices that emphasise comparative or 
interdisciplinary approaches also relate to the 
theme.  A further range of areas or concerns 
often associated with the concept of 
Re-Assemblage relates to new technologies, 
cybernetics and informatics (Haraway), the 
post-human (Hayles), and the ‘desiring machine’ 
(Deleuze and Guattari). In social and cultural 
theory, contexts of hybridity, globalisation and 
‘glocalisation’ are exemplary instances of 
Re-Assemblage. Despite their utopian charge, 
concepts or practices of Re-Assemblage can also 
call for analysis of the ways that they encounter or produce resistance.

This symposium further proposes the theme of 
Re-Assemblage as a means to examine and push the 
boundaries of existing discourses of race, 
ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, as mobilised 
across a range of disciplinary boundaries. 
Postgraduate scholars and early career 
researchers are particularly encouraged to contribute.

Papers from across the disciplines are invited to 
address any aspect of assemblage, including:

* aesthetic practices
* critical strategies
* (post)colonialism, politics, globalisation
* tactics in everyday living
* media, new media, re-mediation
* technologies and human-machine/human-animal configurations
* gender and sexuality

We invite abstracts of 250-300 words to be sent 
to Barry Empson by October 2 2006: barry.empson at stonebow.otago.ac.nz


Barry Empson
German Programme
Department of Languages and Cultures

Ext 3725