*CFP* “CLIMATE FICTION, FRICTION & FACT”, SPECIAL ISSUE, EXCHANGES JOURNAL

Exchanges is a quality-assured, interdisciplinary scholar-led, open access journal dedicated to disseminating research and original thinking from new and early career scholars. Following the Utopia, Dystopia and Climate Change Utopian Studies Society conference (USS, 2019), which focussed on the eutopian and dystopian possible outcomes of anthropogenic global warming, the journal is delighted to announce a call for contributions to a special issue inspired by these topics.

Issue Theme

Despite right-wing political scepticism, scientifically there is near-consensus that anthropogenically induced greenhouse gas emissions are already having a profound and catastrophic effect on the Earth’s climate. This existential threat to humanity and the current ecosphere, also provides a conceptual and critical lens through which to reconsider broad and disparate aspects of art and culture, society, socio-economics and politics alike.

*CFP* “SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN: BORDERS AND BORDERLANDS”, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OXFORD

Somewhere In Between: Borders And Borderlands  

25 de abril 2020

St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford

In an ever changing world the problems of setting boundaries as well as the need to create meanings and establish understanding of diverse phenomena have always been of the utmost importance for humanity. Borders, boundaries, frontiers, and borderlands, naturally formed or man made, are grounded in various ethical traditions, and have always been associated with limits and restrictions. The ongoing process of globalisation is changing the role and stereotypes of borders, so that they are often seen as opportunities rather than constraints. However, in some cases they are still being militarized and conflicted.

The conference will seek to identify and analyse the processes of border-making and border permeability in contemporary societies through aesthetic forms. We seek to explore the historical origins of borders, their role in today’s global environment and define the notion of borders, which includes not only territorial, geographical, and political borders, but also cultural and metaphorical borders, imagined spaces where interests and ideologies overlap and compete.

*CFP* “BREAKING BOUNDARIES: ACADEMIA, ACTIVISM AND THE ARTS”, UNIVERSITY OF LISBON

Breaking Boundaries: Academia, Activism and the Arts

25, September, 2019

Centre for Comparative Studies, University of Lisbon

Confirmed Keynotes: 
Boaventura de Sousa Santos

Daniella Aguiar
Shahd Wadi

The international conference proposes to bring into focus and critically question common grounds and boundaries between and within the Humanities, political activity and aesthetic production. Indeed, what is the role of the Humanities in our universities and in wider society today? How do - or should - they engage with other disciplines and with our contemporary political scenarios? As far-right movements gain popularity across Europe, and old and new discriminations appear legitimized by some political leaders around the world, how is it possible to challenge these from within academia? Is it still possible to separate academic work and political activism? How have the arts engaged with political activism in the past and how are they engaging with it today? Can closer interactions between artistic practices, academic work and activism support resistance to widespread political, economic and social discriminations against the various “Others” of our communities?

*CFP* “DISCOURSES OF IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP: FROM WINDRUSH TO BREXIT”, DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY, LEICESTER

Discourses of immigration and citizenship: from Windrush to Brexit

Thursday 27th June 2019

De Montfort University, Leicester

The media coverage of the Brexit Referendum in 2016 focused disproportionately upon the notion that Britain close its borders and reduce immigration if the country left European Union.  Media discourse on the issues of immigration, race and ethnicity are best described as negative, whilst Government policies on immigration, appear to promote a hostile environment in order to deter potential immigrants. This discourse is not new, sixty years ago when the Windrush generation arrived in Britain they faced discrimination, prejudice and last year, a number of them who had arrived legally, most likely as children, were  been removed from the UK because they were unable to prove they had a right to remain.

So what if anything has changed in the intervening years since Empire Windrush docked in 1948 bringing to the UK hundreds of Caribbean migrants? What parallels are there between the media discourse of Windrush and newer migrants from Eastern Europe or further afield?  Does post-Brexit Britain mean incidents like Windrush will be legitimised as the UK takes control of who is welcome in the country?

*CFP* “BORDERLINES VII: PERFORMING THROUGH THE UNKNOWN CONFERENCE”, DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY AND CIRID

Borderlines VII: Performing through the Unknown

Thursday 20th June 2019

De Montfort University

The seventh annual interdisciplinary conference on performance hosted by De Montfort University's the Drama Research Group and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Dance (CIRID), is scheduled to take place on Thursday 20th June 2019.  

Sarah Gorman, Reader in the Department of Drama, Theatre & Performance at Roehampton University, London,will be our keynote speaker for the conference (see further details below).