On June 3rd and 4th 2004, the Department of English Literature and Humanities at Eastern Mediterranean University will host Inscriptions '04, an arts and culture conference and festival, following on from the success of Inscriptions in the Sand which was held in June, 200.

Inscriptions '04 will embrace literature, film, music, dramatic and performance art, performance events, exhibitions and creative presentations, as well as critical analyses and interpretations of literary, philosophical, and other kinds of texts. In this way, we intend to provide an academic environment and atmosphere charged with the energy of creative experience. We welcome in particular panel discussions, presentations and creative work/performances which problematize, question, challenge, and expose the shifting, littoral ground on which traditional social, disciplinary and ideological boundaries are inscribed. As such, we welcome those interested in such diverse fields as literature/theory, the visual and performing arts, architecture, music, historiography, science, law, politics, and communications media.

Proposed areas of interest:

• relations between text and cinematic or dramatic performance
• the semiotics of music video
• performance, installation, and digital art
• body art, tattooing and mutilation
• jazz, atonal music, noise
• art and pornography; obscenity, voyeurism
• panopticism/ideological manipulations of architectural space
• modern and postmodern artistic avant-gardes
• counter- and sub-cultures
• cults, occultism, the popular imagination
• "pseudosciences," superstition or irrationalism vs. reason and science
• magic, shamanism, religious/mystical discourse
• media (TV, Internet, etc.) intrusion: censorship, privacy
• critical legal studies: ideology and objectivity in law
• deracinations: bedouin, gypsy, nomadic, immigrant or indigenous spaces/borders
• races, ethnicities and nationalisms
• gender agendas: transvestitism, transsexuality, queering
• Cyborgs and cultural systems

I. Panel Discussions (15-20 minute presentations)

We invite submissions for panel discussions in any of the areas of interest listed above. Although we will be publishing selected presentations from Inscriptions in the Sand and Inscriptions '04, we encourage participants to move away from the standard prewritten, "finished paper" format, towards a more open-ended presentation, which will provoke and contribute to a genuine exchange of research and ideas during the panel sessions. Our aim is to create a forum and publishing venue for inspiring work in progress, that will develop and move in new and unforeseen directions as a result of the exchange of ideas with fellow academics participating in the conference, so that scholarly and critical interaction will contribute to the final form of participants' work.

Prospective panelists are invited to send 250-word abstracts/proposals for 15/20 minute presentations on any aspect of the areas above by 31st of January, 2004 to the email address below. We look forward to learning about your research, and to a provocative discussion.

II. Individual Research Presentations (30-45 minute presentations)

We would also like to hear from individuals with recognized expertise who may be interested in presenting their research in fields other than those listed. Our aim for Inscriptions in the Sand is to encourage presentation of and engagement with the best contemporary work in the fields of philosophy, theory, and literary criticism. Submissions for potential panel discussions are also welcome, but ideally we are interested in presentations from individuals who have carved out innovative and exciting research in disparate fields. p>Please send 250-word abstracts/proposals by 31st January, 2004 via email.

III. Creative/Performance Work

We look forward to receiving submissions for creative work in various disciplines. Drama, poetry, narrative and performance events are welcome, as are video/digital art, film, exhibitions and musical renditions. The proposed topics list for Inscriptions in the Sand should give some indication of the nature and style of the type of performance events we are interested in.

Please send details by 31st January, 2004 via email.

For more information about Inscriptions '04 please visit http://www.emu.edu.tr/elh/index_conference.html