10th German Archaeology Congress
Kiel, 20-27 September 2020

AG Römerzeit on "Roman Trade", 23. -24. September 2020

"Trade" is considered an economic activity with the intention of making a profit. This includes manufacturing or processing activities in the craft sector as well as various services. We would like to put these everyday and nevertheless partly elusive aspects of Roman life up for discussion. Although the spectrum of topics should be as broad as possible, we would like to deliberately exclude the fields of pottery production and pottery trade.

At the 10th German Archaeological Congress in Kiel, the session AG Römerzeit will focus on the following aspects of Roman trade:

Features, finds and scientific analyses: How and on the basis of which characteristics does a feature indicate Roman trade? Which finds can be assigned to a trade and can they be used to specify features? In which cases can natural sciences be consulted?

Workshop structures and sizes: Which written sources and archaeological references attest the size and structure of enterprises? Can conclusions be drawn about the number of employees, production volume, sales and trade etc.? In which cases is it possible to reconstruct work processes from the archaeological features?

Localization of trade: It is generally assumed that workshops which posed a high fire hazard or which otherwise "disturbed" their surroundings (smell, noise,…) are located on the edge of a settlement. Does the current state of research support this hypothesis? Where are workshops located and are there differences in the localization of different industries?

Resource extraction: The extraction of resources, be it raw materials for the products themselves or materials for the production process, is trade specific. Does the process of resource extraction influence the choice of location and how is the procurement of resources structured?

Sales and markets: How and in what form can the chain "producer - retailer - recipient" be retraced? Can different distribution systems for commercial end products be identified? Which businesses moved into the vicinity of potential customers and where did it work the other way round?

Position in society: An interesting question will also be what position the different traders had in society. Did some trades offer the possibility to climb up the social ladder or to reach a certain status? As at the last meeting of the WSVA of the AG Römerzeit, we will pursue an interdisciplinary approach.

Speakers from all fields of archaeology, natural sciences and ancient history are cordially invited to present their research and current projects on this topic.

Abstract length: 500 characters
Length of talk: 15 - max. 20 min.

Please submit the abstracts to the speakers of the AG Römerzeit to:
roemerzeit_wsva@gmx.de

At the Kiel congress there will be the possibility to present posters. If you would like to present your thesis or project on other topic of provincial Roman or Roman research within this framework, you are also cordially invited to submit posters.

In particular, we would like to address our young colleagues with this congress in order to further develop networks among the university sector and research institutes.

Information on past conferences of the AG Römerzeit can be found at the following address:

http://ag-roemerzeit.webnode.com/

Archäologie basiert auf empirischen Sichtbarkeiten – nur was in den Blick gerät, gilt als evident. Dabei ist die archäologische Forschung auf allen Ebenen von (Un-)Sichtbarkeiten und (Un-)Sichtbarmachungen durchzogen. Das beginnt bei Marginalisierungen in der Vergangenheit, geht über Präferenzen und Konjunkturen von Theorien und Methoden und reicht bis zu Akteur*innen und Figur(ation)en in Erzählungen und Interpretationen, die wir der Öffentlichkeit anbieten. Dadurch nehmen wir Einfluss darauf, wer oder was subjektiviert und objektifiziert wird. Wir wollen somit nicht nur nach historischen Perspektiven und Forschungsergebnissen fragen, die einen Schwerpunkt der archäologischen Diskussion darstellen, sondern auch anderen Debatten einen Raum geben.

Wir sehen hier für die Archäologien vor allem vier Perspektiven:

(1) Theorien und Modelle: Jegliches Denken über Sichtbarkeiten, Ränder, Innen/Außen, Zentrum/Peripherie ist als räumliche Metaphorik eng mit den jeweiligen Gesellschaftsmodellen (z. B. als Schichtung, Pyramide, Nukleus, Mosaik) verbunden. Wie könnten Konzeptionen des Sozialen aussehen, die explizit Außenseiter*innen, Subalterne und Marginalisierte sichtbar werden lassen? Wie sind Modelle zu bewerten, die Unsichtbarkeiten theoretisch nicht zulassen, Marginalisierung in Integration umwandeln, oder ein “Außen” konzeptionell ausschließen?

(2) Methoden und Forschungspraktiken: Welche Methoden eignen sich, um Unsichtbare und unsichtbar gemachtes in Forschungen zu integrieren? Welche Möglichkeiten bieten beispielsweise verschiedenste naturwissenschaftliche Analysen, linked open data, Statistik und Modellierungen? Wie lässt sich unsichtbar gemachtes empirisch erforschen, ohne neue Unsichtbarkeiten zu produzieren? Benötigen wir mehr empirische Evidenz und/oder mehr kreative Freiräume? Geht es bei der Frage um (Un-)Sichtbarkeiten primär um (Selbst-)Reflexion, oder lässt sich damit fruchtbar empirisch arbeiten? Welche archäologischen Forschungen der letzten Jahre thematisieren (Un-)Sichtbarkeiten und wie wird das jeweils getan?

(3) Marginalisierungen und Ungleichheiten in der Vergangenheit: Wann, wie und wo beginnt Marginalisierung? Können wir Widerstände und Konflikte der Vergangenheit um gesellschaftliche Teilhabe und Partizipation fassen? Gab es Gruppen, Personen, oder andere Entitäten (Tiere, Pflanzen, Dinge oder Assemblagen), die sich einer Integration widersetz(t)en – z. B. Aussteiger*innen, Einsiedler*innen, Rebell*innen oder Kriminelle? Gibt es Zu- und Abnahme von (Un-)Gleichheiten und wo lassen sich Verschiebungen, Verdichtungen oder Brüche feststellen? Benötigen wir ein Verständnis für politische Taphonomien vergangener und heutiger Unsichtbarmachung?

(4) Wissenschaftskommunikation, -reflexion und -ethik: Wie stark beeinflussen gesellschaftspolitische Debatten archäologische Diskurse um (Un-)Sichtbarkeit und Ausgrenzung und wie sieht es umgekehrt aus? Gibt es Konkurrenzverhältnisse um Marginalisierungsperspektiven? Wie treffen verschiedene emanzipatorische Projekte aufeinander, beispielsweise posthumanistische und humanistische Perspektiven, feministische oder marxistische Positionen, Tier-Ethik und Prekariat? Wem oder was geben wir eine Stimme in unseren archäologischen Erzählungen, in musealen Ausstellungen, in TV-Dokumentationen oder Populärwissenschaft? Wie gehen wir damit um, als (selbsternannte) Expert*innen über oder für jemanden zu sprechen, wie mit dem Problem eines fehlenden Einverständnisses zur wissenschaftlichen Sichtbarmachung? Haben wir als Wissenschaftler*innen eine ethische Verantwortung zur Thematisierung von Ungleichheiten und Marginalisierungen?

Wir würden diese kontroverse und wichtige Debatte gerne gemeinsam führen und freuen uns über deutsch- oder englischsprachige Beiträge. Wir laden Wissenschaftler*innen ein, die sich auf verschiedenen Ebenen mit (Un-)Sichtbarkeit, gesellschaftlicher Teilhabe sowie Randgruppen und Marginalisierung beschäftigen. Besonders willkommen sind auch Beiträge von Jungwissenschaftler*innen. An die Vorträge von 20 Minuten Länge soll jeweils eine 10-minütige Diskussion anschließen. Unsere Session findet am 22. und 23.9.2020 im Rahmen des 10. Deutschen Archäologiekongresses statt. Bei Interesse bitten wir bis zum 31.01.2020 um einen Abstract mit Vortragstitel (ca. 250 Wörter) und Kurzbiographie an: Kiel2020@agtida.de

Eine Aufwandsentschädigung zur anteiligen Deckung von Reise-, Tagungs- und Übernachtungskosten kann in begründeten Fällen auf vorherigen Antrag gezahlt werden. Wir bitten diesen möglichst bereits zusammen mit dem Abstract einzureichen.

Wir freuen uns auf spannende Beiträge! Kiel2020@agtida.de

AG TidA (Theorien in der Archäologie)

Für eine Betrachtung des Themas Inklusion anhand von Fallbeispielen vergleiche den Call der AG Wissenschaftsgeschichte „Inklusion in der Archäologie“.

16. Internationaler Kongress 2020 der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Semiotik (DGS)
e.V. „Transformationen: Zeichen und ihre Objekte im Wandel“ (Chemnitz, 22. bis 26.
September 2020)

Um ihre Ziele zu verwirklichen, organisiert die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Semiotik (DGS) e.V. Tagungen, Kolloquien, Arbeitstreffen, Kurse oder Ringvorlesungen zu den Themen ihrer Sektionen (Arbeitsbereiche). Außerdem richtet die DGS alle drei Jahre einen internationalen Kongress aus. Im  Rahmen des 16. Internationalen Kongresses 2020 „Transformationen: Zeichen und ihre Objekte im Wandel“ (Chemnitz, 22. bis 26. September 2020) fordert die Sektion „Archäologie“ zur Einreichung von Beitragsvorschlägen in ihrem Panel auf.

Call for Papers
Im Panel der Sektion Archäologie soll das Thema des Kongresses aus Sicht der Altertumswissenschaften beleuchtet werden. Dabei steht die Frage nach den Transformationsprozessen von Zeichensystemen und ihrem Zusammenwirken mit der materiellen Kultur im Fokus. Es soll zum einen um die Herausbildung und Entwicklung graphischer Kommunikationssysteme (Schrift, Ikonographie, u.ä.) gehen und zum anderen um die Repräsentation von Transformationsprozessen. Die Diskussion gliedert sich in vier Teilbereiche:

1. Entstehung von Zeichensystemen
Die Herausbildung und Entwicklung von Zeichensystemen und Medientechniken wird häufig in einen engen Zusammenhang mit bereits vorhandenen oder neu entstehenden kulturellen Erfordernissen gestellt – sei es, dass man in einem neu entstandenen Zeichensystem die Antwort auf eine bestimmte Notwendigkeit sah (à la “Die Verwaltung/Wirtschaft hatte einen solchen  Komplexitätsgrad erreicht, dass man sie ohne schriftliche Aufzeichnungen nicht mehr hätte kontrollieren können”), sei es, dass man eine neue Medientechnik (wie etwa den Buchdruck oder das Internet) als Auslöser neuer Bedürfnisse betrachtete. Von besonderem Interesse ist dabei die Frage nach der Interaktion von kultureller Neuerung und jeweiligem Zeichensystem.

• Welche semiotischen Prinzipien liegen der Genese von Zeichensystemen zugrunde undinwieweit spiegeln sie die materiellen und sozialen Grundlagen der Kultur?
• Welche kulturellen und semiotischen Prozesse führen zur Herausbildung von Zeichensystemen, und wie wirkt sich gleichzeitig die Einführung und Weiterentwicklungeines Zeichensystems auf die kulturellen Gegebenheiten einer Gesellschaft aus?
• Wie lässt sich dies am archäologischen Befund erkennen?
  Bei der Entwicklung von Zeichensystemen stellt die Materialität des Zeichenträgers und des Zeichens eine zentrale Größe dar.

2. Materialität von Zeichen
Bei der Entwicklung von Zeichensystemen stellt die Materialität des Zeichenträgers und des Zeichens eine zentrale Größe dar. 

• Wie werden Zeichen und Zeichenträger im Zuge neuerer technischer und anderer materieller Gegebenheiten verändert?
• Wie interagieren diese Veränderungen mit dem Zeichensystem?

3. Ungleichzeitigkeit von Zeichensystem und sozialer und technischer Praxis
Die Entwicklung graphischer Kommunikationssysteme auf der einen Seite und der sozialen und materiellen Gegebenheiten einer Kultur auf der anderen Seite geschieht nicht immer im gleichen Takt. Graphische Kommunikationssysteme spiegeln so eine verschobene Materialität wider, etwa durch den Verlust von Motiviertheit, der sich bei Zeichen beobachten
lässt.

• Welche Rolle spielt die Motiviertheit von Zeichen, lassen sich Regularitäten für den Verlust von Motiviertheit identifizieren?
• Wie verhalten sich Zeichen und Objektbezug zueinander, welche Probleme stellen sich für die Referenz von Zeichen in sich wandelnden Zeichensystemen?

4. Objektgestalt als Zeichen von Transformation
Unter welchen Umständen kann die Objektgestalt eines Artefakts als Zeichen für
Archäolog_innen dienen, um Transformationen in der materiellen Kultur zu identifizieren, z.B.
die Form eines steinernen Architekturteils (eine Säule) als Index für die Gestalt eines –
tatsächlichen oder imaginierten – organischen "Vorläufers" (eine hölzerne Zeltstange)

Die AG richtet sich an alle altertumswissenschaftlich Forschenden und soll ein Forum bieten,
Transformationsprozesse in den Kulturen des Altertums sowohl aus semiotischer als auch
aus archäologischer Perspektive zu beleuchten.
Als Vortragssprachen möglich sind Deutsch und Englisch. Bei Vorträgen auf Deutsch bitten
wir um englischsprachige Präsentationsfolien.

Informationen zu Organisation und Ablauf
Der Kongress wird vom 22. bis 26. September 2020 an der Technischen Universität
Chemnitz stattfinden. Bitte senden Sie Ihr Abstract weitgehend unformatiert und in einem
bearbeitbaren Format (idealerweise Word) an: Silvia Kutscher <silvia.kutscher@hu-berlin.de>. Einsendefrist ist der 31.12.2019. Ihr Abstract soll beinhalten: Titel des Vortrags, Name der Referentin oder des Referenten, Beschreibung des geplanten Vortrags (max. 300 Wörter), Institution, E-Mail-Adresse, Kurzlebenslauf (als Fließtext) und bis zu fünf einschlägige Publikationen der Referentin oder des Referenten. Die Vorträge sollen eine Länge von 20 Minuten nicht überschreiten. Eine Veröffentlichung ausgewählter Vorträge ist geplant.

Kontakt
Für Fragen steht Ihnen zur Verfügung: Silvia Kutscher (silvia.kutscher@hu-berlin.de) und
Frank Kammerzell (fkammerzell@hotmail.com).
Konzeption und Ausrichtung der Konferenz: Ellen Fricke (ellen.fricke@phil.tu-chemnitz.de),
Professur Germanistische Sprachwissenschaft, Semiotik und Multimodale Kommunikation,
Technische Universität Chemnitz.

Organisation der Konferenz: Matthias Meiler (matthias.meiler@phil.tu-chemnitz.de) und
Martin Siefkes (martin.siefkes@phil.tu-chemnitz.de) sowie Jana Bressem und Daniel
Schöller.
Weitere Informationen finden Sie ab Herbst 2019 unter
<http://www.semiotik.eu/transformationen-2020>. Bitte lesen Sie ggf. auch die Calls der
anderen Sektionen der DGS.

5th Ancient Philosophy Workshop for Female Graduate Students and Early Career Researchers, Berlin, April 14-15, 2020

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF DATE FOR LATEST SUBMISSION (DEC 1st) AND CONFERENCE (APRIL 14-15 2020).

We invite submissions by female graduate students and early career researchers (within five years of completion of their PhD) for the 5th Ancient Philosophy Workshop to be held on April 14-15, 2020 at the Humboldt University Berlin. This workshop is organised by Women in Ancient Philosophy and sponsored by the Research Training Group Philosophy, Science and the Sciences of the Humboldt University Berlin. Our goal is to provide young and highly talented female philosophers and classicists with the opportunity to present their work and interact with each other. Papers should be about 5000 words long. They can treat any topic in Ancient Philosophy; we aim to put together a selection of Presocratic, Platonic, Aristotelian, Hellenistic, and Roman Philosophy. Papers will be blind-reviewed.
Format of the workshop: this is a pre-read conference; sessions last 75 minutes (15 minutes summary of the paper + 60 minutes discussion).

Accommodation and travel expenses up to 600 Euro will be covered for all speakers.

Keynote Speaker: Rachel Barney (University of Toronto)

The submission deadline is: 1st December 2019.

Please send the following to wiapberlin@gmail.com in .pdf format:
(1) A cover letter that contains (a) the author’s name, (b) institutional affiliation, (c) contact information, (d) the title of the paper, (e) a word count;
(2) The paper itself (around 5000 words including footnotes), including the title and a short abstract (no more than 250 words), with no information identifying the author or the author’s institutional affiliation.

You will be notified of your status by the end of January 2020.

Please contact us with any questions: Juliane Küppers (juliane.kueppers@fu-berlin.de)

Affiliated Research Project:
Research Training Group Philosophy, Science and the Sciences
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Hannoversche Str. 6
10115 Berlin
https://ancient-philosophy.hu-berlin.de

Donnerstag, 31. Oktober 2019, ab 10:30 Uhr, Brugsch-Pascha-Saal (Archäologisches Zentrum), Geschwister-Scholl-Str. 6, 10117 Berlin.

Call for Papers

Es ergeht Einladung zu den „53. Neuen Forschungen zur ägyptischen Kultur und Geschichte“ – zugleich „Erman-Tag 2019“ – am Donnerstag, dem 31. Oktober 2019. Wenn Sie einen Vortrag halten möchten, senden Sie bitte bis zum 15. September 2019 Ihren Vortragstitel und ein kurzes Abstract (max. 300 Wörter). Der zeitliche Rahmen beträgt pro Vortrag 20 Minuten, zzgl. 10 Minuten Diskussion. Die übliche Präsentationstechnik wird bereitgestellt. Bitte wenden Sie sich dazu und für weitere Rückfragen an die Organisatorinnen. Die Entscheidung über das Programm wird Ende September getroffen.
Das Abendprogramm wird von der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften ausgerichtet. In diesem Rahmen findet ein Festvortrag von Univ.-Prof. Dr. Susanne Bickel statt.

Elisabeth Kruck (elisabeth.kruck@fu-berlin.de)
Tina Beck (t.beck@fu-berlin.de)
Elisabeth Steinbach-Eicke (elisabeth.steinbach@fu-berlin.de)
Eliese-Sophia Lincke (eslincke@staff.hu-berlin.de)

23 September 2019, Freie Universität Berlin



Deadline CfP: 12th July 2019

Contact: architecture-economy@berliner-antike-kolleg.org  

Application: abstract (max. 150 words) with a short CV



Head: *Dr Dominik Maschek (University of Oxford, Associate Professor of Roman Archaeology and Art)

Organizing committee: *Thomas Heide, Paola Santospagnuolo, Anja Schwarz (PhD Candidates, FU Berlin, Institute for Classical Archaeology); Konogan Beaufay, Alice Poletto (DPhil Candidates, University of Oxford); Dr. Regina Attula (Coordinator Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies, FU Berlin)



Keywords economy, architecture, urbanism, infrastructure, construction techniques and materials, economics of construction, supply and transport of (building) material, trade, methods & methodology, technology



Like any other human creation, ancient architecture is heavily affected by economic considerations. Procurement and transportation of building material, labour requirements, and technological developments are three important (but not the only) factors which influenced the planning and construction of monuments, buildings, and urban / extra-urban infrastructures.



In the last few decades, research on the ancient economy has been constantly increasing, largely thanks to the use of a wide range of proxies and models fruitfully applied to many different questions and historical periods. The economic impact of construction processes, of the uptake of technological innovations, of architectural design and urban planning are some of the aspects that have recently been investigated more systematically and comprehensively. In this context, both large-scale perspectives – considering entire towns, their fabric and infrastructure, and their transformation over time – and micro-scale approaches have been employed to assess the connection between architecture and economy.



Addressing the outlined issue, this graduate workshop aims to offer a forum for discussion and exchange on case studies, as well as on theories, methods and approaches to the ancient economy. Young scholars (PhD candidates and post-docs) with different disciplinary backgrounds are invited to contribute by presenting their research topic within an economic framework.



The workshop will take place in the run-up to the conference ‘ARCHITECTURE AND THE ANCIENT ECONOMY’ (September 26-28, 2019, Freie Universität Berlin, organised by Prof. Dr. Monika Trümper and Dr. Dominik Maschek). This joint workshop is co-organised by graduate students from the University of Oxford and the Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies (BerGSAS), FU Berlin, and funded by the Einstein Stiftung Berlin.



The programme will be organised into thematic sessions based on the proposals. There will be time for open group discussions on different topics, for which we welcome your suggestions and ideas. Presentations should be 10-15 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of discussion. The preferred conference language is English, but French, Italian and German are welcome as well. Unfortunately, we cannot reimburse any costs for travel or accommodation, but there is no registration fee.



Colleagues who are interested in presenting a paper are kindly requested to submit an abstract (max. 150 words) with a short CV to architecture-economy@berliner-antike-kolleg.org by 12th of July 2019.

Call for papers for a conference in image theory and visual culture studies, 23-25 March 2020, University of Hamburg

Images are not two-dimensional. This insight is essential for approaching the perception of and the constitution of meaning through images. It applies to sculpture in the round, reliefs, and wall paintings as well as to coins, book illumination or floor mosaics. Such works of art all occupy a (variable) place in space, are bound to the surface and consist of several layers. Moreover, they are handled and interfere with other objects and actions. Even the production of all kinds of images can be described as a multi- layered process in a material sense. Tesserae are inserted into a substrate, paint is being applied, material removed with a chisel or poured into a mould with a certain thickness. Thus, it makes sense to distinguish different levels or layers of images and to ask how they have contributed to their perception and efficacy. In addition, the phenomena and processes associated with images are all bound to a temporality: the production of the image medium is a process that, like its perception, extends over time. The image itself references the time and duration of what is depicted, and its carrier moves through space as well as through time. With time, various layers of meaning may sediment or reappear through erosion processes. The dimension of time thus creates further layers of the image.

While, in the end, these phenomena apply to all physically perceptible objects, images are additionally characterised by further complexity in communication processes. In figural representations, figures can interact with each other, be staggered or positioned parallel in the pictorial space. The vase painters, engravers or illuminators – to name just three groups of producers – makes use of a variety of possibilities to shape and design their works. These, in turn, can reflect different intentions of their producers in their respective contexts or evoke effects on the recipient’s side. For example, different registers are used to invoke hierarchies of image elements. Within a composition, framing takes place in different ways, which in turn serves to identify significant differences. Framing here does not only mean the actual embedding in a picture frame, but moreover it refers to phenomena such as stylistic differences, size variation, positioning on a pedestal or in a building and other strategies of differentiation. Such strategies can be used to identify a human figure as an ancient statue or as a deceased person or to distinguish between different strands of action. Different narrative styles, techniques and themes provide e.g. the painters and sculptors with specific options to operate with the communicative and ontological levels.

Works of art are multidimensional. For the recipients, this results in diverse and multi-layered approaches to interpret and deal with them. Approaches to contemporary perceptions and attributions of meaning inevitably raise questions regarding ambiguous aesthetic experiences: the possibilities of a casual, as well as an intensive contemplation and observation. Connections and layers of meaning can be developed in different ways. The recurring question remains, whether, how, and by whom a distinction can or should be made between different layers. With these considerations in mind, the conference will address phenomena and constructions of different types of image layers.

We invite contributions regarding possibly but not exclusively the following questions:

How do certain material properties and genres influence the possibilities of distinguishing between image layers? How do material, design and content interact?

Which correlations exist between the design of material, temporal and communicative layers?

How does the differentiation and marking of image layers contribute to the presence of an artwork as object, medium or image?

Which different perceptions are fostered or controlled by the creation of layers? How do these relate to the circumstances of reception? Is the recognition of multiple layers linked to an intensive scrutiny or does the multi-layered image in some cases perhaps even allow a more rapid understanding of certain contexts?

Which means were used to distinguish between image layers? To what extent are these typical for certain temporal and spatial contexts?

In the context of image layers, is it feasible to speak of a readability of images, and what potential does a text-oriented analysis of ancient works of art hold? To what extent can, for example, categories of analysis from narratology be applied in this respect? By what means are levels differentiated and identified in texts, and what role did phenomena such as palimpsests or intertextuality play in antiquity?

Please send an abstract (250 words) of your proposed paper along with your contact details and a short academic CV to: fanny.opdenhoff@uni-hamburg.de by 22 August 2019.

The conference is organised by Jacobus Bracker, Fanny Opdenhoff, and Martina Seifert and will take place at the Institute for the Archaeology and Cultural History of the Ancient Mediterranean at the University of Hamburg.

International Conference for Postgraduate and Early Career Research Students
 

Call for Papers deadline 15th of July 2019 (12PM)


Pisa, 21st-22nd of October 2019
Department of Philology, Literature and Linguistics

 

Lead doctoral committee

Luca Austa (Siena/Torino), Giulia Baccaro (Pisa), Micol Muttini (Siena)


Organiser

Andrea Giannotti (Durham/Pisa)


Scientific committee:
Enrico Medda (Pisa), Simone Beta (Siena), Francesco Carpanelli (Torino), Patrick J. Finglass (Bristol), Andrea Taddei (Pisa), Mauro Tulli (Pisa)

Keynote speakers

Enrico Medda / Andrea Taddei (Pisa), Simone Beta (Siena)

Topics of discussion

‘The Theatre of the πόλις’ aims to gather the most stimulating and innovative methods of analysis for the investigation of ancient theatre in all of its literary, socio-political and ritual aspects. The role of the πόλις (of Athens as well as of other cities which organised and hosted dramatic agones and performances) still constitutes a hotly debated topic. For this occasion, we are seeking papers mainly (but not exclusively) related to the following fields of study:

   -   Historical, political and sociological readings and considerations of tragic and comic texts within their contemporary context.
   -   Interpretations and literary considerations of tragic and comic texts beyond their contemporary context.
   -   Considerations of ancient dramatic festivals (Athenian and non-), their organisation, and their (social, anthropological and religious) functions between theatricality and rituality.
   -   The theatre of the πόλεις beyond the traditional Athenocentric interpretation of ancient theatre.
   -   Considerations of the Panhellenic character of ancient theatrical texts.
   -   The aftermath: the evolution of the theatre after the 5th BCE. Readings and interpretations of an industrial and itinerant phenomenon.
   -   The theatre and the tyrants: considerations on the theatrical activity devoted to tyrannical power in Greece and the Mediterranean world.

Candidacy policy
The Congress is open to PhD students and early career researchers working on topics related to any aspect of Ancient Greek Theatre. Each paper should be fresh and innovative; re-adapted proposals will not be considered. Each proposal will be judged and selected by the Scientific Committee.

How to submit a proposal

To attend the Congress ‘The Theatre of the πόλις’ as speakers, candidates must send an e-mail to andrea.giannotti1990@gmail.com following these instructions:

   1. (a)  Object. The object of the e-mail must be: ‘Candidacy to Pisa session’;
   2. (b)  Attachments. The following documents must be attached to the e-mail (rigorously in .pdf): (i) an anonymous abstract (max. 300 words) of the proposed paper [in case of a collective panel (max. 3 papers) all abstracts must be attached as a single document along with a brief introduction]; (ii) a concise CV (max. 300 words) which highlights: University affiliation, degrees, relevant publications.

Papers can be delivered in Italian or English. Each paper must be 30 minutes long, followed by a discussion. Publication of written versions of the papers is planned (although the publication is subject to the unquestionable judgement of the Scientific Committee and to a process of blind peer-review).


Deadline

Proposals will be accepted until 15/07/2019 (12PM [IT]). The outcome will be notified by 15/20 days after the closing of the CfP. The definitive programme will be published in September.


Reimbursements

Meals will be covered for the speakers (2 lunches; 1 dinner); unfortunately, on this occasion, it is not possible to ensure further reimbursements.


Contacts

For info about the Congress, please contact the organiser at the following email address: andrea.giannotti1990@gmail.com
The Congress is a public and free event.

Please download the complete CfP (with the abstract of the conference) in pdf here: http://www.teatroclassico.unito.it/it/content/convegno-«il-teatro-della-πόλις»-pisa-2019

Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”
19th-20th December 2019

Keynote speaker: Prof. Therese Fuhrer (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)

Exactitude is the third of the Six Memos for the Next Millennium by Italo Calvino (Cambridge MA,  1988). According to Calvino ‘exactitude’ is a «well-defined and well-calculated plan for the work in question; an evocation of clear, incisive, memorable images [...]; a language as precise as possible both in the choice of words and in the expression of the subtleties of thought and imagination».  The aim of Prolepsis’ 4th International Conference is to reflect on Calvino’s definition applying it to the Classical, Late-Antique and Medieval Worlds. This year the conference will be particularly keen  on – but not limited to – the following topics:

- Accuratio vel ambiguitas in speech, argumentation and narration.

- Ambiguous, inaccurate and disconcerting communication from the author, and potential reader response.

- Metrical and musical exactitude and its limits.

- Exactitude in treatises (scientific, rhetorical, grammatical).

- Quoting, misquoting and misplacing.

- Accurate and inaccurate titles, and their transmission.

- Limits in the material evidence (manuscripts, papyri, inscriptions, formation of corpora, mise en  page, stichometry).

- Exactitude, doubt, ambiguity in the history of transmission (from ancient lexica, etymologica, and commentaries to modern scholarship).

- Examples of Exactitude and Ambiguity in Ancient and Modern Translations.

- Exactitude and Ambiguity in ancient and modern reception.

- Hypercorrection, lacunae, conjectures and obsession for completeness.

- Exactitude in historical and documentary reconstructions.

- Beginnings and endings of ancient and medieval works: doubtful and exact endings, incipit ex abrupto, etc.

- Finished and Unfinished / Clear and Unclear / Perfect and Imperfect in the philosophical reflection.

The participation in the conference as speaker is open to postgraduate students and early career researchers. To participate send an e-mail to prolepsis.associazione@gmail.com by the 30th of June 2019.

The e-mail must contain the following pdf attachments:

1. An anonymous abstract of approximately 300 words (excluding references) and in English. You  should specify if the abstract is for an oral presentation or a poster.

2. A short academic biography with name and affiliation.

Proposals will be evaluated through double-blind peer review by scholars in the Humanities. The proposal evaluation will be carried out based on the following criteria: consistency, clarity, originality, methods. All abstracts, including those in proposed panels, will be reviewed and accepted on their own merits. Please note that this review is anonymous. Your anonymous abstract is the sole basis for judging your proposed paper for acceptance. Papers should be 20 minutes in length plus 10 minutes for discussion. The languages admitted for  the presentation are English and Italian. Selected papers will be considered for publication. Italian speakers will be required to provide an English handout, power point, and possibly a translation/translated summary of their paper. Proposals for coordinated panels (three papers reaching 90 min. in total, discussion included) and posters are most welcome. Posters should be written in Italian or English. Expenses for travel and accommodation will not be covered. For any inquiries write to prolepsis.associazione@gmail.com, we would be glad to help you find solutions.

The organising committee:

Roberta Berardi (University of Oxford)

Nicoletta Bruno (Thesaurus linguae Latinae, Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, München)

Giulia Dovico (Universität zu Köln)

Martina Filosa (Universität zu Köln)

Luisa Fizzarotti (Alma Mater – Università di Bologna)

Olivia Montepaone (Società Internazionale per lo Studio del Medioevo Latino)

Claudia Nuovo (Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro)

*12th International Congress of the International Plutarch Society*

Warsaw (Poland), 3-6 September 2020

Plutarch lived in the multicultural yet increasingly interconnected world of the Roman empire: a world in which diverse local, linguistic, religious, and political identities were combined with a common education and culture as well as shared everyday experiences. This sense of interconnectedness is apparent in Plutarch’s works in a number of ways, such as in the inclusion of speakers from various backgrounds in dialogues and the exploration of Roman history and culture alongside that of Greece. There is an abundance of parallels between Plutarch and other imperial-period writers with backgrounds that differed from his, reflecting their shared cultural participation.

*This conference seeks to discuss Plutarch’s works within the broader context of imperial-period literature and to explore overlaps and points of intersection between Plutarch and other ancient authors of the 1st and 2nd c. CE, including Greek and Roman as well as pagan and Christian writers* (including, for instance, Dio Chrysostom, Arrian, and Lucian; Seneca, Quintilian, the two Plinies; Christian apologists and the early Church Fathers). We welcome contributions of a comparative nature investigating convergences and variations, parallels and modifications in themes, formats, and literary techniques in Plutarch and other authors of the early empire. We also invite submissions reflecting on the value and potential of such a perspective: does it allow us to identify the cultural and literary background Plutarch and other authors shared and distinguish it from their individualizing modifications, agendas, and preoccupations? To what extent does it allow us to define distinctive features of the Plutarchan *corpus* and thought? And, more generally, how does a comparative approach contribute to our understanding of the literary and intellectual culture of the early imperial period?

*Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following*: philosophical and religious concepts and ideas; use of literary motifs, *topoi*, and *exempla*; use of genres, literary formats, rhetorical and narrative strategies; stylistic and linguistic characteristics and tendencies; attitudes towards Rome and Roman domination; attitudes towards the Greek past and its cultural heritage.

*Submissions*
Please send paper proposals of ca. 300 words in Word or PDF format to plutarch2020@gmail.com before the deadline of December 1, 2019. The participants will be notified of the acceptance of their proposals by March 1st 2020. Membership of the International Plutarch Society is not required.

*Organizers*
International Plutarch Society
Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Faculty of Humanities
Organizing Committee: Katarzyna Jazdzewska, Joanna Komorowska, Filip Doroszewski

*Venue*
The conference will be held at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Campus Dewajtis