CFP: The Simon Fraser University Humanities Interdisciplinary Graduate Symposium: Transformation and Change

The Simon Fraser University Humanities Interdisciplinary Graduate Symposium:

Transformation and Change

“A crowd of small metamorphoses accumulate in me without my noticing it, and then, one fine day, a veritable revolution takes place.”

Jean-Paul Sartre, Nausea.

We live in a world where the news cycle in dominated by headlines of natural disasters caused by climate change. Where the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID crisis weighs heavy upon people’s minds. We hear news of the slow erosion of democracies around the world and the rise of neo-Fascist ideology. While the conditions of the working class seem to slip further and further behind the ever-expanding economic golem we’ve created. But we also live in a world where poverty rates in developing countries are declining and education for children, especially among girls, is increasing. We see the rapid rise of technological advances unfold exponentially within our lifetimes. And despite the complication which arise from the ownership of our shared technology advances, its revolutionary potential cannot be ignored. We live in a world which teeters on the brink of radical environmental change but is also bursting with the potential for a revolutionary social transformation.

But what does this all mean? And what are we to do with the time that is given to us? How are we as a society supposed to approach our historical moment? Are there philosophical notions or theories of change that might help us navigate our present? Or must we look outside our European traditions? Can we find historical examples of cultural change that we may turn to as a guide? Are there already instances within our present where examples of positive change are taking place? Or is it the case that revolutionary change is needed? And what might it look like?

With these thoughts in mind,we welcome submissions pertaining to the theme of “Transformation and Change” to join us for our Simon Fraser University Humanities Interdisciplinary Graduate Symposium to be held on March 25th and 26th 2022. This conference welcomes all submissions from disciplines within the broader Humanities. It is our hopes to foster an interdisciplinary environment which welcomes scholars and people of all backgrounds.

Examples of topics include, but are not limited to:

·         Western Philosophical Traditions

·         Historical Approaches

·         Indigenous Knowledge Traditions

·         Critical Theory and Cultural Analysis

·         Gender and Race Theory

·         Decolonization

·         Populism

·         Environmental Theory/Changes

It is our hopes that we will be able to host an in-person event, but we are also planning for the possibility of a hybrid event (online and in person). If we are unable to hold an in-person event, we will move fully to an online only platform.

If you are interested in participating, please send us your abstract of 400 words (maximum) by January 30th at 11:59pm PST. Please include: Name, Institution, Degree, Title of presentation, and Email address. All submissions will be read, and all authors will be notified of the committee’s decision by February 4st, 2022. Each speaker will be given 20 minutes to present, followed by a five-minute question period. Please send abstracts and questions to: [email protected].