April 20 2024

2016 Eastern International Region Call for Papers

2016 Eastern International Regional Meeting

May 6–7, 2016
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

“Globalizing the Human(ities)”
Eastern International Region of the American Academy of Religion 2016 Annual Meeting

University of Pittsburgh
May 6-7, 2016

Deadline for submission of proposals: February 15, 2016

The Eastern International Region of the AAR invites faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, independent scholars, and professionals from both inside and outside the Region to submit proposals for papers and panels to be presented at the 2016 Regional Meeting. Alongside the regular panels, the conference will include a series of special sessions on the theme of Globalizing the Human(ities).

Proposals are welcome in all areas within the study of religion, including:

  • Anthropology
  • Method and theory
  • Art history and criticism
  • Music history and criticism
  • Comparative religions
  • Philosophy
  • Ethics
  • Psychology
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • History
  • Sociology
  • Literature
  • Textual studies

In particular, the program committee is interested in proposals related to our special theme: Globalizing the Human(ities). With this theme, the organizers hope to engage questions of how interdisciplinary and historical humanities research, and especially the study of religion, can be done in an increasingly global age. What does it mean to be human, and to construct the human as an object of study, particularly in global perspective? How do individuals construct religious knowledges, ethics, and identities in such a context? How have religious communities responded to or engaged with globalizing cultural, economic, political, and social forces, as well as with local, regional, or national issues? Especially welcome are proposals which consider the role of religion in conjunction with the following issues:

  • Humanities/Religious Studies as a discipline
  • Global and local religious identities
  • Religious responses to/rejections of globalization
  • Imperialism and resistance/discourses of knowledge & power
  • Humanitarianism/Human Rights
  • International politics/issues/affairs
  • Humanism/Post- and Trans-humanism
  • Global interactions in literature, philosophy, & the arts
  • Relationship of humanity to the sacred
  • “World Religions” & Global Paradigms
  • Global networks/technology/media
  • Global movement/migration/diaspora/transnationalism
  • Human psychology/mindfulness/wellness
  • Global environmental issues/religious ecology/ecotheology
  • Processes of Modernization/Global Modernity
  • Humanity & Gender/Sexuality/LGBTQ Identities

New to the EIR Meeting in 2016

In addition to individual papers, panels, and roundtables, the committee also invites students, faculty, and filmmakers/producers to submit proposals to show their original documentary films on religious topics as part of the conference. At least one researcher/filmmaker must be present at the viewing for his/her film to be eligible. See below for submission guidelines.

Submission Guidelines

Individual Papers: Individual paper presentations are limited to twenty minutes in delivery. Each proposal should contain the following in a single e-mail attachment in MS Word format:

  1. One-page abstract (300 word maximum) describing the nature of the paper.
  2. Cover page that includes the submitter’s full name, title, institution, phone number, e-mail, and mailing address.

Panels or Roundtables: Each proposal should contain the following in a single e-mail attachment in MS Word format:

  1. One abstract per proposed paper and a brief overview of the panel/roundtable by the organizer. Please include information about any respondents, if applicable.
  2. Cover page that includes the primary contact person’s full name, title, institution, phone number, e-mail, and mailing address. 

Undergraduates: In addition to the above requirements, undergraduate proposals must include a letter from a faculty member who has supervised the student’s work.

AV/Tech Support: If you require technological support for your presentation/panel (such as an Internet connection or audio and projection equipment), you must request it with your proposal.

All presenters at the 2016 regional conference, with the exception of undergraduates, must have active membership in the AAR or SBL. All participants must register for the conference.

Please send your proposal to eiraarsubmission@gmail.com.
Deadline for submission of proposals: February 15, 2016
Please visit http://www.eiraar.net for more details.

Student Paper Competition

Graduate and undergraduate students in the Eastern International Region are invited to enter the student paper competition. Please note that to be eligible for consideration, the student must attend a university in the Eastern International Region (Canada: Ontario, Québec; NY: zip codes 10900-10999, 12000-14999; PA: zip codes 15000-16899, 17200-17299). Up to two $200 awards will be presented at the conference.

To enter the competition, please include a line in your proposal (due February 15, 2016) confirming that you wish to enter your paper into the contest. A final draft of the paper (3,000-word maximum) is due to the EIR Regional Coordinator, Verna Ehret (vehret@mercyhurst.edu), by April 28, 2016. The submitted paper must conform to your conference presentation in its entirety.