*CFP* "IDENTITIES AND REPRESENTATIONS", 3RD INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CONFERENCE ICON

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge that will accompany us for some time in the future. What consequences does this have for our ICON conference in November? ICON will take place – COVID-19 should not deter you from handing in your abstracts. If circumstances allow it, we will welcome our speakers and guests as planned at the university of Mainz – of course with all necessary precautions concerning hygiene and distancing. Alternatively, we are ready to set up a digital conference – including talks and discussions via video and chat. We will inform you about the format and details of the conference a few months in advance, so everyone will have enough time for preparations. We are looking forward to welcoming all our participants on November 20 and 21– either in person or in the digital world.

Identities and representations

Why identity? The opportunities people are or aren’t given, the decisions they do or don’t make, the qualities they ascribe to themselves and to others – identity is entangled everywhere. Mention, e.g., a particular sexual orientation, ethnicity, or mental condition and one risks being reduced to a single characteristic. The way we perceive ourselves and others is constantly shaped by language, image, picture, sound, gesture, clothing; the list goes on. Forms of representation can include and exclude, promote and limit self-expression, as well as hinder seeing beyond stereotypes.

Coming to terms with identity appears constantly across cultural, social, and literary discourses. ICON 2020 will provide a discussion forum for all disciplines that address one of the countless aspects of identity and representation. 

Potential contribution topics include:

• Personal and group identity 
• Identification 
• Citizenship 
• Representation of nationalities and cultures 
• Immigrant experience 
• Identity politics 
• Intersectionality 
• Feminism 
• Performativity 
• LGBTQ+ identities and representation 
• Gender representation 
• Identity construction through language, narrative or (social) media 
• and many more.

• Are our understandings of identity and forms of representation really appropriate? 
• Do they provide a suitable basis for resolving identity related conflicts? 
• How does one avoid the dangers of essentializing identities? 
• Does “difference” incline us to construct mutually exclusive categories when dealing with “identity?” 
• Is there a way to ensure beneficial exchange?

We invite submissions of abstracts (550-600 words, PDF) on aspects of this wide range of topics.

Possible formats of presentations are

1. Individual talks (20 minutes + 30 minutes discussion period) 
2. Joint talks (20 minutes + 30 minutes discussion period) 
3. Posters 
4. Workshops (50 or 100 minutes, workshops must actively involve the participants) 
5. Creative work (e.g., photo exhibition, performance, concert or audiovisual presentation)

Please include a short bio with your name, affiliation, university, and field of study in your email, and send your attached abstract by May 31, 2020 to icon@uni-mainz.de. Please find our guidelines for abstracts. Further information.