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Childhood and Emotion in Late Medieval and Early Modern History
| Location: | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Call for Papers Date: | 2009-03-31 (Archive) |
| Date Submitted: |
2009-03-05 |
| Announcement ID: |
167364 |
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The organizers propose an international conference on the topic of “Childhood and Emotion in Late Medieval and Early Modern History,” to take place on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, 11-14 March 2010. In the hope of developing a trans-cultural history of the complex, changing relationships among childhood, emotion and society, we seek particularly to encourage studies that range between the late medieval and early modern periods and among European and non-European contexts. Through the synthesis of individual presentations, we hope to arrive at a reinterpretation of childhood that moves beyond Aries. Through the comparison of childhood in a variety of social and cultural contexts, we hope to distill common elements and, so, provide the basis for a more sensitive understanding of “childhood” across temporal, national and religious divides. The official language of the conference will be English, and the proceedings will be published.
In the history of childhood, Philip Aries’s Centuries of Childhood has acquired iconic status since its appearance in 1962. Working from images of children, Aries argued that childhood is a modern concept, the product of the nuclear family and industrial capitalism. In recent years, however, scholars have criticized Aries’s thesis. They have raised questions about the reliability and validity of his methods and his interpretations. Yet, these criticisms have remained piecemeal, leading to no fundamental reinterpretation of the history of childhood.
For all the problems associated with his thesis, Aries introduced a crucial element in contemporary analyses of childhood: he implicitly posited that it is socially constructed, not merely a biological phase. Though humans are all young once and become old over time, the social evaluation and significance of these common biological phases differ with the social context in which they are applied. Different societies and different groups within societies construct different ideological frameworks, on the basis of which age differences may be interpreted and age-appropriate behaviors defined. In consequence, we no longer agree to a single definition of the term, “childhood.”
The organizers have applied for funding, especially to pay the travel expenses of participants. We invitethe submission of proposals in the form of a brief precis and curriculm vitae by 31 March 2009. Beginning scholars as well as established experts in the field are encouraged to participate.
Professor Thomas Max Safley
The organizers propose an international conference on the topic of “Childhood and Emotion in Late Medieval and Early Modern History,” to take place on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, 11-14 March 2010. In the hope of developing a trans-cultural history of the complex, changing relationships among childhood, emotion and society, we seek particularly to encourage studies that range between the late medieval and early modern periods and among European and non-European contexts. Through the synthesis of individual presentations, we hope to arrive at a reinterpretation of childhood that moves beyond Aries. Through the comparison of childhood in a variety of social and cultural contexts, we hope to distill common elements and, so, provide the basis for a more sensitive understanding of “childhood” across temporal, national and religious divides. The official language of the conference will be English, and the proceedings will be published.
In the history of childhood, Philip Aries’s Centuries of Childhood has acquired iconic status since its appearance in 1962. Working from images of children, Aries argued that childhood is a modern concept, the product of the nuclear family and industrial capitalism. In recent years, however, scholars have criticized Aries’s thesis. They have raised questions about the reliability and validity of his methods and his interpretations. Yet, these criticisms have remained piecemeal, leading to no fundamental reinterpretation of the history of childhood.
For all the problems associated with his thesis, Aries introduced a crucial element in contemporary analyses of childhood: he implicitly posited that it is socially constructed, not merely a biological phase. Though humans are all young once and become old over time, the social evaluation and significance of these common biological phases differ with the social context in which they are applied. Different societies and different groups within societies construct different ideological frameworks, on the basis of which age differences may be interpreted and age-appropriate behaviors defined. In consequence, we no longer agree to a single definition of the term, “childhood.”
The organizers have applied for funding, especially to pay the travel expenses of participants. We invitethe submission of proposals in the form of a brief precis and curriculm vitae by 31 March 2009. Beginning scholars as well as established experts in the field are encouraged to participate.
Professor Thomas Max Safley
Department of History
College Hall 208
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6379
USA
Dr. Claudia Jarzebowski
Fachbereich Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften
Friedrich-Meinecke-Institut
Freie Universität Berlin
Koserstr. 20
14195 Berlin
GERMANY
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Thomas Max Safley
Department of History
College Hall 208
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6379
USA
Email: tsafley@history.upenn.edu
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