http://www.aarweb.org/About_AAR/Regions/Southwest/call.asp
Southwest Region
Call for Papers
Southwest Regional Meeting
March 14–16, 2008
Marriott Hotel, DFW Airport
Irving, TX
The Southwest Commission on Religious Studies invites members of constituent organizations to submit paper proposals for the 2008 Regional Meeting. Proposals should be submitted to the person designated in each section. Please indicate if the proposal is being submitted to more than one section. Proposals may be submitted to more than one organization, but in order to accommodate as many people as possible, papers must not be read more than once during the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, the deadline for paper proposal submission is November 1, 2007.
Arts, Literature, and Religion: In recent years scholars in religious studies and the humanities have examined works of popular culture that express spiritual experience and theological content, applying to that analysis the critical theories and tools of their discipline to elucidate the explicit and implicit religious content of films, novels, television series, paintings, etc. Is this a valid scholarly exercise?
Papers are invited that explore this connection between popular spiritual expression and scholarly discourse: Are scholars of religious studies and/or the humanities qualified to examine popular culture? What are the aims of such examination? Is this just fun or legitimate scholarship? Who is the audience for such scholarly critiques? Is this scholarly attention to popular culture condescending or a manifestation of the postmodernist rejection of the distinction between high and low culture?
Presentations which address these questions in a creative way — illustration with reference to specific works, multidisciplinary collaboration, for instance — will receive preference in selection for panels comprising two or three papers, organized by approach, theme, or genre. Works in progress, experiments, or theoretical suggestions are also welcome. Please send proposals/abstracts that identify the topic and nature of the paper/presentation to Katherine Downey, The Hockaday School, kdowney@mail.hockaday.org or katherinedowney@sbcglobal.net.
History of Christianity: The History of Christianity section has an open call for papers. While all submissions in the field will be considered, papers in the following two areas are of special interest, as they reflect the 450th and 350th anniversaries of the accession of Elizabeth I and the death of Cromwell respectively. First, the hundred years from the time of Elizabeth to the end of the Commonwealth, a dynamic period in the history of Christianity; second, African-American Christianity, particularly the effect of the 1808 abolition of the U.S. slave trade and how its effects contrasted with Great Britain’s 1807 abolitionist movement. Send proposals to Art A. Torpy, 3605 East Brookview DR, Waco, TX 76710, USA; (W) 254-235-4948; Art_Torpy@Baylor.edu.
Philosophy of Religion and Theology: Proposals are invited in all areas in philosophy of religion or in theology. Proposals involving multiple presentations or panel discussions (no more than three participants) focused upon a single topic, figure, or publication will be especially welcome (either have each panelist provide an abstract, which is preferred, or supply credentials of panelists). Proposals that feature interdisciplinary or interinstitutional participation, and that promise to stimulate productive discussion, will be favored. Proposals should be no more than two pages, with the title of presentation and some sense of the argument. Include a return address, contact number, and e-mail address. Please do not submit proposals as e-mail attachments; paste them into the body of the e-mail. Submit proposals to: Steve Oldham, University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, Box 8422 UMHB Station, 900 College ST, Belton, TX 76513, USA; (W) 254-295-4171; soldham@umhb.edu.
Ethics, Society and Cultural Analysis: Proposals for papers or panel discussions are invited on any topic in ethics or cultural analysis, including: social ethics, environmental ethics, theological ethics, feminist/womanist ethics, philosophical ethics, the history of ethics, ethical issues in politics, sexual ethics, and the use of Scripture or tradition in ethics. Also of interest are reflections on capitalism and globalization, the use and impact of race-class-gender ethical analysis, constructive treatments of contemporary ethical issues, and pedagogical styles in ethics. Send proposals to: Melanie L. Harris, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298100, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA; m.l.harris@tcu.edu.
Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion: The Comparative and Asian Studies in Religion section invites paper proposals on any topic concerning all aspects of Asian religious practice and thought, both historical and contemporary. However, papers in the areas of healing and medicine in Asian religions, Asian religions in America, women and Islam, and translations and interpretations in comparative perspective are of special interest. (Some overhead projectors and slide projectors may be available; if using a Power Point presentation, please make your own arrangement for a data projector). Please let me know if you have any AV needs. Proposals should not exceed 500 words and should include title, brief description, and an indication of the main arguments of the presentation (Word attachment via e-mail preferable). Send proposals to: Ivette M. Vargas, Religious Studies Department, Austin College, Sherman, Texas 75090, USA; (W) 903-813-2479; ivargas@austincollege.edu.
Theta Alpha Kappa: Student members of Theta Alpha Kappa chapters in the Southwest Region are invited to submit papers for presentation at the regional meeting. Open to all topics. One session will be devoted to the best papers. Submissions must come from the chapter advisor and include 1) the presenter’s name and contact information; 2) the entire paper (preferred) or an abstract of the paper (acceptable); and 3) name of the school. Please include 4) the venue for which the paper was prepared (e.g., honors project, senior thesis, etc.). In the event that there are more proposals than can fit in one session, local chapter advisors may be asked to select the one best submission from their schools. Submit proposals electronically to: Nadia Lahutsky, Texas Christian University, n.lahutsky@tcu.edu.