The fourth biennial conference of the European Network for Avant-garde and Modernism Studies will be held at the University of Helsinki, Finland, August 29-31 2014. The topic of the conference is
UTOPIA
Modernism and Avant-gardism are artistic languages of rupture. Both were directed against traditional ways of conceiving art, often assuming an antagonistic position in relationship to existing cultural and social institutions and relationships. This conference explores the utopian alternatives which Modernist and avant-garde artists offered to existing society. This was not always simply a question of taking an outside position: for example, the Russian avant-garde was co-opted by the early Soviet state in an uneasy – and temporary – alliance to give birth to the New Man. The 2014 EAM conference in Helsinki commemorates the centenary of the break-out of the First World War by taking as its starting point the many utopian dreams within European literature and arts as well as their collapse in the face of the horrors of war. The effects of the War lasted throughout the century, and the conference will also explore the utopian dimensions of the neo-avant-garde, be it that of the West which dreamed alternatives to conformism and consumer society, or of the East which sheltered alternatives to socialist dystopia. We thus invite proposals for contributions that deal with the alternatives that modernism and the avant-garde offered to existing reality: utopias; chimeras; dreams; abstractions; desires; myths; dystopias; cityscapes or impossible landscapes; politics or anti-politics; the body freed or harnessed; erotic or amatorial liberation; the retreat into private worlds or the mapping of bold alternatives; the avant-garde as alternative to or embodiment of the state; the utopian moment in the nihilistic or rebarbative art-work. We welcome contributions across all areas of avant-garde and modernist research or practice: art, literature, music, architecture, film, artistic and social movements, lifestyle, television, fashion, drama, performance, activism, design and technology.
Conference convenors and the EAM network chairs:
Prof. David Ayers
University of Kent, UK
Dr. Marja Härmänmaa
University of Helsinki, Finland
EAM-web page: www.eam-europe.be
For all the enquiries about the conference, please contact us after August 1: eam-2014@helsinki.fi
Call for proposals
You may submit a proposal as a CHAIR or as an INDIVIDUAL. There are three different kinds of panel.
1) An OPEN PANEL consists of a CHAIR and 3-8 speakers. The CHAIR proposes the topic. Once the topic is accepted it is advertised as part of the cfp and individuals may apply to join the panel. The CHAIR decides which papers are accepted. Those individual proposals which are rejected are considered by the conference organizers for inclusion in other panels. Doctoral students may apply to an open panel.
2) A CLOSED PANEL consists of THREE or (exceptionally) FOUR speakers. One of the speakers is the CHAIR who makes the submission and supplies the details and proposals of all of the proposed participants. A closed panel may include no more than two doctoral students.
3) A PEER SEMINAR has a CHAIR who proposes a topic and up to 12 participants. Once the topic is accepted it is advertised as part of the cfp and individuals may apply to join the seminar. The participants circulate short position papers (2000 words) one month before the seminar. The papers are discussed at the seminar. There is NO audience at the peer seminar which is closed to the rest of the conference. Doctoral students may apply to participate in a seminar and this can be a good way to get accepted to the conference for people whose work is at an early stage.
Therefore there are several ways to make a proposal to the conference:
1) you may propose to be the CHAIR of an OPEN PANEL [by September 30th 2013]
2) you may propose to be the CHAIR of a PEER SEMINAR [by September 30th 2013]
3) you may propose to be the CHAIR of a CLOSED PANEL [November 1st – January 30th]
4) you may submit an INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL to join an OPEN PANEL [November 1st – January 30th]
5) you may submit an INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL to a PEER SEMINAR [November 1st – January 30th]
6) you may submit an INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL without specifying a panel and the organisers will assign your paper to a panel if accepted. [November 1st – January 30th]
You may apply by only ONE of these methods except that the CHAIR of a PEER SEMINAR may also be included as member of a CLOSED PANEL or may submit an individual proposal under (4) or (6).
Call for chairs
Those who are interested in acting as CHAIR of an OPEN PANEL or of a PEER SEMINAR in the Helsinki conference, are invited to submit a proposal to eam-2014@helsinki.fi by September 30, 2013. The proposal should include a brief presentation of the panel of approximately 150 words, the title of the panel, a short biodata of the chair(s), title, contact information, and the affiliation. Once the OPEN PANEL or PEER SEMINAR has been accepted, it will feature in the general call for papers and individuals may make a proposal to the chair who will select participants. Individuals whose proposal to a Panel is rejected will be considered for inclusion elsewhere in the conference by the scientific committee.
The list of the OPEN PANELS and PEER SEMINARS will be published on the conference web pages by the end of October.
The general call for papers of the conference is November 1 – January 30. Further information will be available in September on the EAM web page. In the general call for papers we will be accepting proposals for CLOSED PANELS, and individual proposals to join the listed OPEN PANELS and PEER SEMINARS. Individuals will also be allowed to send a proposal to the conference as a whole and the Scientific Committee will assign the paper to a panel, if accepted.
The participants will be informed about the acceptance of the papers by February 30.
The official languages of the conference are English, French and German. Both papers and entire panels are accepted in all the three languages.
The scientific committee of the EAM 2014 conference:
Professor Henry Bacon, University of Helsinki / Professor Natalia Baschmakoff, University of Eastern Finland / Professor Tomi Huttunen, University of Helsinki / Dr. Teemu Ikonen, University of Helsinki / Dr. Timo Kaitaro, University of Helsinki / Dr. Janna Kantola, University of Helsinki / Professor Pirjo Lyytikäinen, University of Helsinki / Professor Hannu Riikonen, University of Helsinki / Dr. Riikka Rossi, University of Helsinki / Professor Pekka Pesonen, University of Helsinki / Professor Kirsi Saarikangas, University of Helsinki / Professor Riikka Stewen, Academy of Fine Arts / Professor Harri Veivo, University of New Sorbonne / University of Helsinki
Tervetuloa Helsinkiin! – Varmt välkommen till Helsingfors! – Добро пожаловать в Хельсинки! – Welcome to Helsinki! – Bienvenu à Helsinki – Hertzlich willkommen nach Helsinki – Benvenuti a Helsinki! – Bienvenidos a Helsinki! – Tere tulemast Helsingisse! – Zapraszamy do Helsinek! –
Καλώς ήρθατε στο Ελσίνκι!