CFP: SLA Conference, 2-3 August 2013

CFP: SLA Conference, 2-3 August 2013

Addressing the Sacred through Literature and the Arts

Friday 2 August – Saturday 3 August 2013

 Australian Catholic University, 25A Barker Road, Strathfield NSW 2135, Australia

 

`Addressing the Sacred’ is the second in a continuing series of conferences presented by The Sacred in Literature and the Arts (SLA), a community of interest that aims to bring Australian and international writers, artists, musicians, academics, religious and members of the general public together to talk about the interplay between the arts and the sacred.

Call for Papers and Presentations

Definitions of the sacred extend from the narrow to the broad, from referring exclusively to a deity or religious ceremony to describing that mystery which is at the core of existence and has the power to transform our understanding of life. It is both a technical term used in the scholarly study of religion and a popular term used to describe something which is worthy of respect.

As artists we can explore our own sense of the sacred through our artwork. As audiences we can seek traces of the sacred in works of art. Through the act of interpretation we become co-creators, though what we perceive as the sacred may be far from that which inspired the original artist.

This conference seeks to address both the acts of creation and co-creation, to encourage a dialogue between artists, scholars and audiences in a mutual exploration of the sacred. At its heart is the idea that the sacred enables us to move beyond a utilitarian understanding of the world and infuses our everyday life with mystery.

Abstracts of 250 words are invited for 20-minute papers and presentations that address the conference theme; they may be from artists talking about their work in relation to their concept of the sacred, researchers presenting new insights into the sacred dimension of pre-existing works, or interpreters bringing to light new understandings of the presence of the sacred. Abstracts should be should be sent to Elaine Lindsay at [email protected] by 8 March 2013, using the subject header `SLA 2013 abstract’. Submissions should include the author’s name, affiliation, email address, title of abstract, body of abstract, and a short biography. Acceptances will be advised by 12 April 2013.

It is intended that a publication will result; contributors to the conference may be invited to develop their papers into extended essays for a themed volume.

Further details of the conference, including conference registration, will be posted on: www.acu.edu.au/485556 . Inquiries can also be directed to the convenors, Associate Professor Michael Griffith ([email protected]) and Dr Elaine Lindsay ([email protected]), Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Australian Catholic University.