[inter/meta/trans] Fwd: Call for Submissions. Take a deep breath conference - Tate Modern - London Consortium - 15-17

[adam overton]

From: cstefanis at hotmail.com <cstefanis at hotmail.com>
Date: Aug 22, 2007
Subject: Call for Submissions. Take a deep breath conference - Tate
Modern - London Consortium - 15-17 November 2007

Take a deep breath

A conference at Tate Modern, London
15 - 17 November 2007

Call for Submissions

Deadline for submissions: 10 September 2007

Breathing is a vital practice, yet most of us hardly ever think of the
process. Recent environmental and ethical developments are calling
for a rethinking of the value of breath and its manifestations in
culture and beyond.

Take a deep breath is an interdisciplinary conference on the social,
cultural and scientific ramifications of breathing. It will explore
the influence of breath on the work of various theorists and
practitioners and encourage a critical discussion by featuring talks,
visual art projects, performances, film screenings, and musical events.

We would like to invite contributions from a wide range of
disciplines, including: visual and performing arts, literature,
architecture, music, philosophy, theology, biomedical and
environmental sciences and sports. Participants are encouraged to
submit contributions exploring the following themes:

Visible/Invisible Respiration: There is general agreement that it can
be heard and smelt, yet why is it taken for granted that respiration
is an invisible manifestation of our being alive? Artists have often
explored this paradox. What lies in this tension between the visible
and the invisible breath?

Contaminating Breath: The exhaled breath brings out in the world an
amalgam of volatile components ranging from vital oxygen to poisonous
carbon dioxide. Breathing is vital, yet it can also be fatal. To
breathe upon is potentially to infect or contaminate.

Hold It Exercise It Manipulate It: Breathing can be subjected to
active and passive forms of control. What are the ways with which we
control and manipulate our breath? Does the loss of breath result in
the loss of control, or perhaps is it the other way round?

Beyond Breath: Can we think of breathing beyond its principal
corporeal function? Breath as pneuma and psyche has always been of
great significance to psychology, psychiatry, philosophy and
religion. What are the effects of euphoria and phobias, panic attacks
or asphyxia? Is there life after breath?

Keynote speakers include:

Professor Steven Connor (Birkbeck College/ London Consortium)
Professor Howard Caygill (Goldsmiths College)
Mark Cousins (Architectural Association/ London Consortium)

Submission guidelines: Paper proposals of 1000-1500 words outlining a
20 minutes presentation or full papers (max 4500 words) and a
curriculum vitae of no more than two pages should be submitted via
email by 10 September 2007. Visual or/and sound material should be
submitted via email at breath at londonconsortium.com or as DVD/CD
copies at the following address:

Take a deep breath
The London Consortium
Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
12 Carlton House Terrace
London
SW1Y 5AH
UK

All papers and presentations will be in English.

Selection and Notification: All contributors will be notified whether
their submission has been selected by 20 September 2007.

Dispatch Costs: Contributors are responsible for the costs of sending
any visual or sound material. Submissions can only be returned if the
applicant provides a self-addressed and stamped envelope.

Duration: Thursday 15 – Saturday 17 of November 2007

Venue: The conference will take place at Tate Modern.

Take a deep breath is organised by Irini Marinaki, Martine Rouleau and
Konstantinos Stefanis in collaboration with The London Consortium and
Tate Modern.

The London Consortium is a unique collaboration between the
Architectural Association, Birkbeck College, the Institute of
Contemporary Arts, TATE and the Science Museum. We offer challenging,
rigorous postgraduate programmes in the Humanities and Cultural
Studies leading to a Master of Research (MRes) or PhD degree in
Humanities and Cultural Studies from the University of London.
For more information visit: www.londonconsortium.com

For further information please do not hesitate to contact us by email
at breath at londonconsortium.com