CFA: Call for Abstracts: Punk Rock & Philosophy

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS!

Punk and Philosophy: God Save the Queen (of the Sciences)

Edited by Josh Heter & Richard Greene

Abstracts are sought for a collection of philosophical essays related to punk. This volume will be published by Carus Books (this is the same editorial team that was long with Open Court Publishing). We are seeking abstracts, but anyone who has already written an unpublished paper on this topic may submit it in its entirety. Potential contributors may want to examine other volumes we have edited to get a sense of what we are looking for (e.g., Westworld and Philosophy, The Man in the High Castle and Philosophy, Conspiracy Theories and Philosophy, Quentin Tarantino and Philosophy, and The Princess Bride and Philosophy, etc.). The abstracts and resulting selected papers should be written for an educated but non-specialized audience.

Contributors are welcome to submit abstracts on any topic of philosophical interest that pertains to Punk. We are especially interested in receiving submissions that engage philosophical issues/topics/concepts in Punk in creative and non-standard ways.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

Metaphysics:  What is 'punk' / 'punk rock'?  How is punk rock different from other forms of rock 'n roll?  In what sense is punk music 'alternative music'?  To what is it an alternative?  Can punk rock be 'emo'?  Can you be punk without ever picking up a guitar (or any other musical instrument)?

Ethics: Are punk rockers obligated to sing (or, yell) about social change?  Can they affect social change?  What does it mean to 'sell out'?  To what extremes should punk bands go to avoid selling out?  Is there something virtuous, or morally praiseworthy about being straight-edge?  

Epistemology: Can you ever know you are punk (or does even having the belief disqualify you)?  Does punk rock advocate skepticism (i.e., does punk rock challenge our assumptions so much as to challenge our claims to know anything)? 

Philosophy of Law:  What is anarchy and how does it relate to punk rock and punk culture?  Is anarchy a genuine possibility?  Could it really ever come to be?  Should the punk rocker vote?  If so, how (if not, why not)?

Psychology:  Why do so many punk rockers participate in self destructive behavior (e.g., drug, alcohol abuse)?  What (if any) is the connection between the music and the lifestyle?  Must punk rock be angry to be good?

Religion: Christian punk bands – is there any conflict between the message and the genre?  What are the prospects for punk music in traditionally fundamentalist Islamic countries?  Can punk bands get a foothold?  Can they make a difference?

Aesthetics:  Is punk rock beautiful?  Need it try to be?  Or, are punk rockers trying to create something shocking and ugly?  Is punk rock (and similar genres) evidence against the idea that there is anything objective about beauty? 

Gender:  How are women portrayed in punk rock?  How are women treated in punk culture?  What influence have women like Patti Smith and Kim Gordon had on punk rock and popular culture in general?

Mythology:  Who (or what) are the legends of punk rock?  Joey Ramone? Joe Strummer?  The Sex Pistols?  CBGB's?  How does punk rock legend compare to other legends of pop culture and mythology?   Have these people (and things) been (undeservedly) given 'legendary' status?

Regional / Geographic / Economic Issues:  London, New York, L.A. / Orange County, is there something about these areas that lend themselves to punk rock?  Do certain social conditions (e.g., economic hardship, oppressive parenting) lend themselves to the creation of punk rock?

Anthropology: What exactly are the subcultures of punk scene (e.g. skinheads, sick boys, etc.) and how do they relate to the culture at large?  

Please feel free to forward this to anyone writing within a philosophic discipline who might be interested in contributing.

Contributor Guidelines:

Send Abstract to: [email protected]

1. Abstract of paper (100–750 words)

2. Resume/CV for each author/coauthor of the paper

3. Initial submission should be made by email (we prefer email with MS Word attachment)

4. Deadlines:

Abstracts due September 15, 2021

First drafts due December 15, 2021

Final drafts due February 15, 2022

(Early submissions are encouraged and welcomed!)