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Narrating morality and sexuality. Continuity and change in Southeast Asian literatures.
In the conference 'Narrating morality and sexuality. Continuity and change in Southeast Asian literature' we wish to approach the topic from a historically comparative, genre-crossing and transnational perspective. Literatures from Southeast Asia will be analyzed as to how they have approached sexuality and morality in different historical periods. Whereas contemporary Indonesian literature, dealing with sexuality, is highly controversial as the debate around the so-called sastrawangi (fragrant) literature shows, religious literature finds increasing acceptance among an Indonesian readership. Novels such as Verses of Love (Ayat-Ayat Cinta, 2004) by Habiburrahman El Shirazy, which are characterized by Islamic conceptions of morality, have become bestsellers. Furthermore, religious literature is promoted through the Pen Circle Forum FLP (Forum Lingkar Pena), which has mainly produced dakwah literature. If we look at classical literatures such as the Javanese we encounter different conceptions of sexuality. Narratives such as the Serat Candraning Wanita are marked by their more relaxed attitude towards sexuality, which was regarded as a natural pleasure.
In this conference we would be happy to include papers that focus on sexuality and morality in Southeast Asian literatures. We invite papers relating to the three following broad areas:
Conceptions of sexuality and morality in classical, modern and contemporary Southeast Asian literatures
Continuous and changing conceptions of sexuality and morality
Crossing borders: Interactions between Southeast Asian literatures
Possible other topics relating to the conference theme are likewise welcome.
Please submit contact details, paper titles and short abstracts (250 words) until 01 January 2009.
Pending budgetary approval of the sponsor the conference will take place on 15-16 July 2009 at:
Asia Africa Institute
University of Hamburg
Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1
20146 Hamburg
Conference Organisers:
Jun. Prof. Monika Arnez
Universität Hamburg
Asien-Afrika-Institut
Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1
20146 Hamburg
e-mail: monika_arnez@yahoo.de
Prof. Edwin Wieringa
Malaiologischer Apparat
Albertus-Magnus-Platz
50923 Köln
e-mail: ewiering@uni-koeln.de
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