*CFP* "SPECTROLOGY, HAUNTING AND GHOSTS", SPRING SEMINAR 2021

Spring Seminar 2021 

Spectrology, Haunting and Ghosts

6th-7th, May 2021

Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal

 

Some artworks, from cinema to visual arts and photography, have absorbed phenomena like ghosts, zombies, illness, death, spectra, apparitions, and other kind of “in-between” states of being. This kind of liminality is a way of bringing forward in our historical present its profound ambiguity. 

Images are ontologically problematic in their approach to reality. They are always a representation of a time and a space, and their manipulation puts into question their indexicality.

 

This liminality of ghosts, spectra and apparitions is also a way of analyzing the complexity of our historical present, in both its linearity and a cross-over of past, present and future. Therefore, these “in-between” states discuss issues of the traumatic past, as are empowerments to change the future. That is, the traumatic past haunts the historical present demanding new ways of knowing the world and history that will transform power structures.

This seminar aims to map and discuss contemporary manifestations in art & cinema of these phenomena.

We welcome papers on the following topics:

• Critical theory on spectrology, haunting and ghosts
• Cinema and visual arts that incorporate or relate to ghosts, zombies or dead people
• Spaces of liminality in cinema and contemporary art
• Artworks that use spectrology, haunting and ghosts as means to speak trauma
• Alternative uses of narrative dealing with these “in-between” states
• How certain images haunt the historical present
• Uncovering archives

 

Guidelines for submissions:

• The proposals should be comprised of an abstract (about 300 words), a biographical note (about 100 words), 4-6 keywords and contact and affiliation information of the author(s);
• The proposals should be sent in a single word document (.doc or .docx);
• All submissions should be sent to springseminar.arts@porto.ucp.pt