{"id":236,"date":"2016-04-28T16:13:56","date_gmt":"2016-04-28T20:13:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/utopian-studies.org\/utopusdiscovered\/?p=236"},"modified":"2016-04-28T16:14:39","modified_gmt":"2016-04-28T20:14:39","slug":"cfp-41st-meeting-of-the-society-for-utopian-studies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utopian-studies.org\/utopusdiscovered\/cfp-41st-meeting-of-the-society-for-utopian-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"CFP: 41st Meeting of the Society for Utopian Studies"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cHarbors and Islands: Explorations of Utopia<\/em>, Past and Present\u201d<\/p>\n

When: Oct 27-30, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

Where: Saint Petersburg, Florida: Hilton Saint Petersburg, Bayfront<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Howard Segal, University of Maine<\/strong><\/p>\n

In conjunction with the 500th anniversary of the publication of Thomas More’s seminal text Utopia<\/em>, the conference will focus on theme \u201cIslands and Harbors\u201d to emphasize contrasting notions of isolation and community, safety and trepidation, the exotic \u201cother\u201d and the familiar, and similar examples of exploration, imagination, or \u201csocial dreaming\u201d inspired by Utopia<\/em> or its later antecedents.\u00a0 Given this important anniversary, the conference is especially interested in presentations on More’s work in teaching, research, community planning, and philosophy.
\nThe St. Petersburg area provides a vibrant and engaging conference location, featuring a guided walking tour of the historic Cuban community in Ybor City and the possibility of visiting the Salvador Dali Museum, Tampa Theater, Henry B. Plant Museum, Busch Gardens, and other nearby historical and cultural sites.\u00a0 The area also features an active Thai temple, the Wat Mongkolrata, which welcomes visitors and offers walking tours, prayer demonstrations, and delicious Thai food.<\/p>\n

Thematic approaches and activities might include:<\/p>\n

Digital Humanities<\/strong>\u2014Given the longevity of Utopia<\/em> and its many imitators, what forms of technology showcase this text or other imagined or real-world utopias?<\/p>\n

Islands<\/strong>–Themes of connectivity\/disconnection in urban planning, architecture, social programs, intentional communities, and sociology<\/p>\n

Harbors<\/strong>–Idylls of safety, domesticity, and community.\u00a0 Themes of danger and refuge in utopian fiction, idealized eutopias<\/p>\n

Migration<\/strong>–given Tampa’s role as a port city, themes of internationalization, globalization, migration, deportation, etc. Discussions of immigrant communities in conjunction with Ybor City, Wat Mongkolrata, and other Tampa landmarks and neighborhoods<\/p>\n

Globalization<\/strong>–as an immigrant community, Tampa showcases themes of language, politics, internationalization, trade and commerce<\/p>\n

Teaching<\/strong>–pedagogical issues in teaching Utopia <\/em>and similar works of utopian fiction, teaching dystopian works, theories of teaching speculative fiction
\nArtwork<\/strong>\u2014presentations or displays of art and\/or analyses of utopian themes in the works of Salvador Dali (given the proximity of the Dali Museum in Tampa)<\/p>\n

Abstracts and proposals of up to 250 words are\u00a0due by 15 July 2016<\/strong> for the following:<\/p>\n