CfP: Paradigms of Change in Modernising Asia and America
13-14 October 2017, Ghent University and KU Leuven
Between the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century, the terminology of change belonging to the European intellectual tradition—composed of terms that constitute milestones in the historiographical account of societal, historical and political development such as modernity, revolution, renaissance, enlightenment, progress, evolution, etc.—has been substantially reinterpreted and re-signified outside of Europe. Asian and American scholars applied those new terms to their historical predicament and, in doing so, they appropriated them. In that very moment, those terms started to exceed their primary historical referent. They belonged no more to Europe alone and became across-the-board metaphors, universals and tropoi which gave meaning to their experience of change. At the same time, autochthonous terms designating change in non- European languages found new meanings and uses.
The conference aims to foster discussion on the process of change and modernisation taking place outside of Europe between the second half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century. We are interested, in particular, in re-considering the terminology and narrative that intellectual and political actors from North, Central and South America and Asian countries used in their effort to define the path of development taken by their nations and communities during a time of rapid change.
Contact Info:
The symposium, organised by Ghent University and KU Leuven, will take place in Ghent on October 13th and 14th, 2017. Please, send all applications by email to Dr. Francesco Campagnola (School of Japanese Studies, Department of Languages and Cultures, Ghent University).
We welcome abstracts of 400-500 words. A biographical note should also be included, listing position held, fellowships and grants received and major publications. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is July 20th, 2017. Candidates will be informed by August 15th, 2017 and should confirm their participation by September 1st. Paper presentations should not exceed 25 minutes and will be followed by 15 minutes of discussion. No complete paper is to be delivered before the conference takes place. Submissions are due by 20 July 2017.
Contact Email: francesco.campagnola@ugent.be
For more information, please see the conference website.