Call for Papers

- International Conference: Final Call for Papers -

CARNIVAL
'PEOPLE'S ART' AND 'TAKING BACK THE STREETS'

July 30-August 3, 2008, Toronto, Canada

Accolade Centre at York University and Kofler Centre at the University of Toronto

Spreading from Trinidad through the Caribbean, to Brazil, the United States and Canada, England, as well as Germany, and with analogues in Brazil, the United States and elsewhere, Carnival has developed into one of the most important global expressions of popular identity. Both as celebration, and as resistance art, it builds on the collision of cultures of Christian European colonizers and enslaved West Africans. The claiming of public space in the use of the street is a statement of presence that is as much political as artistic. Organized to coincide with the Caribana Festival on the streets of Toronto, this conference addresses such important issues as Globalization and Commercialization, the formation of Diasporas, the origins and development of Carnival, Gender and Racism, the nature of Postcolonialism today.

Held as part of the Caribana Festival and Parade, and with the International Steelpan Association, the conference encourages merging theory with practice

The conference will explore the social, political and cultural aspects of Carnival and street theatre, as well as themes of exclusion/otherness, exoticism and cross-cultural acceptance, connections across the Diaspora, and comparisons between Carnival in Africa, the Caribbean, South and North America, Europe and the UK. Papers that address any aspect of these areas are welcome. While taking African Carnival and its spread across the Caribbean to other continents as its base, this conference is also intended to focus on the widest socio-cultural aspects of this performative street art: the negotiation of hybrid identity in the post-colonial context; anthropological views of historical developments, the politics of carnival and street theatre, the economics and commercial pressures.

Suggested topics for papers include, but are not limited to:
Carnival and theatricality The Trinidad Carnival Tradition Economics and Carnival Popular Art, Globalization & Copyright Caribana: history, performance Cross-Cultural Influence: Brazil, Bolivia, Berlin	Images of Africa / Carnival in Africa Myth, Magic and Ritual Social Activism & Street Theatre Gender, Sexuality, Satire New Orleans Mardi Gras Notting Hill Carnival
There are seminars for which papers may be submitted, on the following topics:
Cultural Rights in a Transnational Festival Anthropological Approaches to Carnival	Carnival in Literature

There is also still the opportunity to propose other seminar topics

Submissions:

Prospective participants should submit abstracts of between 100 and 300 words, for individual papers, seminars or workshops, by the FINAL deadline of JUNE 1st 2008. Abstracts should be sent by email to carnival@yorku.ca. Abstracts must include the title of the paper or presentation, the name(s) of presenter(s); institutional affiliation; email address, phone & Fax numbers. Students should identify themselves as New Scholars.

Special Features:

Presentation of a performance piece by Eintou Springer Major Exhibition of Carnival Art Kings and Queens Competition and Caribana Parade Steelpan Music and Panels Presentation of Carnival Videos

Workshops on:

Producing Carnival Carnival Design Street Theatre Calypso

CONTACT:

Prof. Christopher Innes, Canada Research Chair, 125 Winters College, York University – Tel. (416) 736-5142

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