| Mid-Atlantic Region Call for Papers |
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Dear MAR-AAR Colleagues, We encourage you to submit proposals for the 2011 joint regional meeting of the Mid-Atlantic and New England–Maritimes Regions, to be held on March 17–18, 2011. As is customary for the Mid-Atlantic Region, once again we will be meeting with the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Society for Biblical Literature (MAR–SBL). Based upon the very large turnout for the last meeting, the MAR–AAR Executive Committee has once again selected the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey, as our venue. The New Brunswick Hyatt is three blocks from the local Amtrak station, nineteen miles from Newark International Airport, and thirty miles from New York City. The theme for the 2011 conference is “Religion and Embodiment.” Our three plenary speakers for this year will address this theme from diverse perspectives.
We invite scholarly proposals in any of the subject areas listed below. For any Section without a specific focus in its call for papers, check the Mid-Atlantic region's webpage in the near future for more details on proposal specifications for those sections. We also invite proposals for panels given by members of the AAR. (Note: The MAR-SBL call for papers is currently online at http://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/rm_midatlantic.aspx. Though MAR-SBL is meeting jointly with MAR-AAR and NEMAAR, evaluation of SBL proposals for the 2011 meeting is conducted separately by MAR-SBL.) Conference Sections and Conveners:Christian History and Theology This Section invites proposals for a special panel relating this year’s regional conference topic of religion and embodiment to the history of Christianity and Christian theology, pre-1900. We are particularly interested in proposals that: 1) Explore the way the body has been treated in Christian literature and practice, the dichotomy between mind/spirit/soul and body, and how that Contemporary Theology (Nineteenth Century to Present) East Asian Religion History of Christianity This Section welcomes paper proposals on any aspect of medieval Christian thought and practice, particularly those related to religion and embodiment. Medieval Studies Pedagogy This Section critically examines the scholarship of teaching and learning appropriate for the study of religion. We especially invite presentations that model the combination of innovative teaching practice with the scholarship of pedagogy. In consideration of this year’s meeting theme, we especially welcome the following topics: 1) Ways in which the body has been presented in religious studies; 2) Ways in which the embodied nature of the instructor and/or student has been considered within the learning environments of religious studies; 3) Considerations of embodiment in virtual religious studies; and 4) Embodied ritual practices that create us and sustain us before, during, and/or after class. You may, however, submit a paper on any topic related to this Section’s general focus. Philosophy of Religion Psychology and Religion This Section welcomes papers on the broad range of issues that come under this heading, and especially papers addressing the conference theme of religion and embodiment. We would also like to encourage interdisciplinary papers that make forays into psychoanalysis, philosophy, and social theory. Religion and the Arts Religion and Ethics This Section invites papers that explore current ethical issues from the perspective of one or more religious traditions, or which examine some aspect of religious behavior from any of a variety of ethical perspectives. We encourage papers in environmental ethics and interreligious dialogue, and welcome papers related to the conference theme of religion and embodiment. Our goal is to present creative scholarly papers on issues where religion and ethics intersect, and to stimulate lively and productive discussions. Religion, Gender, and Sexuality This Section explores the intersection between religion and perspectives on gender and sexuality. Papers on the theme of “gender justice, sexuality justice” are invited, but quality papers on all topics in religion, gender, and sexuality are welcome. We are particularly interested in proposals that are related to one of the following themes: 1) Issues of gender and sexuality in interreligious dialogue; 2) Feminist approaches in comparative theology; 3) Postcolonial and poststructural issues in gender studies; 4) Gender issues and multiple religious identities or religious hybridity; and 5) Sexuality, nonhuman nature, and religion from interdisciplinary perspectives and approaches, including “othering” and ecotheological perspectives. We encourage submissions by scholars of all sexual identities (including those who are heterosexually identified), multiple disciplines, religious traditions, and perspectives. Religion in America Religion in India This Section invites proposals on traditional and popular religions in India. Papers are especially welcome on this year’s theme of religion and embodiment. Please submit a 250-word proposal on any aspect of religious practice or theology relating to the embodiment practices of one or more religious traditions of India to be considered for presentation at this year’s conference. However, we also welcome papers on any aspect of religious practice in India. Religion, Pop Culture, and Media This Section is dedicated to the scholarly exploration of religious expression in a variety of popular culture phenomena. We encourage multidisciplinary scholarship and are committed to taking popular culture seriously as an arena of religious and theological reflection and practice. We strongly encourage creative multimedia presentations that provide alternatives to the conventional reading of conference papers. We are looking for the exploration of the intersections of religion and popular culture in various contemporary media. Presentations might examine the following areas: 1) Web and new media — YouTube, virtual worlds, multiplayer games, etc.; 2) Comic books, graphic novels, manga, etc.; 3) Cinema and television — auteur theory, drama, sitcom, science fiction, fantasy, etc.; 4) Practicing religion in the age of media; 5) Games and toys — video, board, role-playing, etc.; 6) Music — cover art, lyrics, videos, web sites, etc.; and 7) The relationship between any of the above. We will also consider other related areas. Scriptural Reasoning This Section gathers Jewish, Christian, and Muslim thinkers for the study of scriptural texts that speak to themes of contemporary importance. Papers should examine brief scriptural passages (drawing on both textual scholarship and reception history) and suggest how they address contemporary readers’ concerns. Participants will be asked to circulate drafts in advance and revise their papers in conversation with each other. At least one session will include textual study in small groups. We invite paper or panel proposals concerning embodiment and religion, ethics and performance, and scriptural reasoning methodology. We welcome proposals on other topics as well and encourage complete panel proposals. Proposal SubmissionPlease send proposals by e-mail attachment to the Section Chair(s) for the Section to which you are applying no later than Friday, November 19, 2010. You may submit no more than one proposal to an AAR section at this regional meeting, although MAR–AAR members who are also members of MAR–SBL may also submit a second proposal for a SBL session. Note about Registration Fees for Non-PresentersConference attendees who are not presenting may register at a discounted rate of $30. Note that presiding at a session is not considered presenting, and non-presenters who volunteer to preside at sessions will still be charged this discounted rate of $30. Both presenters and non-presenters are encouraged to volunteer to preside at sessions. The preregistration form below has an area that you may check off if you are interested in presiding at a session. Mid-Atlantic Regional AwardsAs has become our custom, MAR–AAR will award the Kate Connolly-Weinert Prize of $200 to the most innovative group session (or panel) dealing with peace issues or women’s studies. The deadline for submission is November 5, 2010. Applicants should send their proposals to the appropriate Section Chair. New England–Maritimes Regional AwardsTo help foster graduate student participation, the Executive Committee of the New England–Maritimes Region will again bestow the NEMAAR Graduate Student Awards for Excellence for the three best student papers presented at the conference by a NEMAAR regional member. Those interested in applying for the awards should submit their entire papers by February 18, 2011, to the appropriate Section Chair(s) and clearly indicate on the submission sheet that they are submitting the paper for NEMAAR award consideration. You are required to be registered for the conference in order to be considered for the awards. PreregistrationOnline preregistration will be available in January 2011 through the AAR website at http://www.aarweb.org/About_AAR/Regions/Mid-Atlantic. You will be notified by e-mail when our online preregistration is live. Please utilize the AAR website for registration, as it saves paper and helps the region fulfill our national AAR mandate to promote environmentally sustainable gatherings. If you choose to preregister for the meeting using a paper form, please complete the PDF form and return it by mail no later than March 1, 2011. Hotel InformationHyatt Regency New Brunswick The Hyatt Regency is offering online hotel room registration for the MAR/NEMAAR regional meeting. In order to receive the discounted conference rate when booking online, you must reserve your room through this website and NOT through the general Hyatt website. Alternatively you may call Hyatt Central Reservations at 888-421-1442 to reserve rooms. Please indicate that you are attending our conference so that you can receive the conference rate. Discounted single and double-occupant hotel rooms ($109 plus state and local taxes) will be held until March 1, 2011. After that date, normal hotel rates will apply. Since only fifty discounted rooms have been reserved for Wednesday, March 16, and Thursday, March 17, and fifteen discounted rooms have been reserved for Friday, March 18, we strongly encourage you to reserve your room early. Parking is available at the Hyatt for conference participants at a discounted rate of $6 a day. SustainabilityAs part of the American Academy of Religion’s commitment to host environmentally-sustainable meetings, we are asking participants to consider bringing reusable beverage containers and name badge holders from previous conferences in order to cut down on waste at the conference. For any ongoing updated conference information please consult our website at http://www.aarweb.org/About_AAR/Regions/Mid-Atlantic. Information will be posted as it is available during the upcoming academic year. |
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