Bodies of Myth ¡V New Perspectives

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Laurence Coupe, Manchester Metropolitan University
Author of Myth (Routledge New Critical Idiom)

The Department of Humanities at Leeds Trinity & All Saints invites submissions for a one-day conference on myth on July 13th 2007.

The conference is dedicated to exploring mythological figures and themes in all areas of the humanities ¡V from foundational myths of faith and nation to retellings of traditional stories ¡V and the significance of these images and motifs in contemporary culture. The conference welcomes wide interpretations of the term ¡¥contemporary¡¦ and contributions need not be confined to literature and culture of the last 10 years.

Topics of particular interest include but are not limited to:

„X Myths of otherness ¡V past and present (e.g. vampires, witches, ¡¥aliens among us¡¦ science fiction)
„X Myths of metamorphoses and body transformation (e.g. retellings of Ovid, body art, etc.)
„X Myths and nations.
„X Celebrities and archetypes (e.g. the extent to which cultural figures such as Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana embody mythic archetypes)
„X Heroes, heroines, saints and martyrs.
„X Creative, performance-based or multimedia responses to the overall theme. (e.g. short readings or performances, screenings of short films and video works)

Historical, theoretical, formalist, and political/cultural methodologies are welcome, as are submissions concerning all literary and visual genres, including those that treat literatures and cultures other than English. Submissions taking an interdisciplinary approach are particularly welcome.

It is envisaged that there will be a number of panels covering different aspects of the overall topic so proposals are invited for contributions of 15-20 minutes in length.

Deadline for Submission: January 31st 2007

Please submit a 250-word abstract no later than January 31st 2007 to the email address below. If you are interested in making a creative, performance-based or multimedia contribution then please contact the conference co-ordinator Dr. David Kennedy to discuss what facilities you might need before sending a detailed proposal. Submissions must include name, contact information, and institutional affiliation as appropriate.