[ecrea] Conference on Paranormal Cultures

>The Sussex Centre for Cultural Studies conference on
>Paranormal Cultures
>4 June at the University of Sussex
>
>Dear colleagues,
>
>Registration is now open for The Sussex Centre 
>for Cultural Studies one-day interdisciplinary 
>conference on Paranormal Cultures, Friday 4 June 
>2010 at The University of Sussex.
>
>The paranormal has always exerted a particular 
>pull, triggering in some an urge to explore 
>and explain and in others a more emotional or 
>even spiritual reaction. Discussions about and 
>enjoyment of a rich mixture of topics and 
>experiences grouped under the umbrella term 
>paranormal cultures are becoming increasingly 
>popular and mainstream. An abundance of media 
>coverage, television and cinema entertainment 
>and an ever growing interest in supernatural 
>phenomena, ghosts, UFOs, psychic powers, 
>astrology and other forms of alternative 
>knowledges on the Internet testifies to a 
>willingness to explore the paranormal and the 
>extraordinary in our everyday lives.
>
>This conference seeks to open up discussions 
>about the anxieties, desires and engagements 
>with the paranormal discourse, in popular 
>culture, literature and visual culture as well 
>as in everyday life, and across historical 
>periods. The recent increase in popularity of 
>all things paranormal across literature, art and 
>popular culture suggests not only a 
>reinvigorated interest in notions of the 
>paranormal but possibly also new functions and 
>pleasures of these fascinations, pursuits that 
>scholars need to engage with, and we hope the 
>conference will be a stimulating starting point for such engagements.
>Conversations across disciplines, from 
>Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Media Studies, 
>History, to Art History will be addressing questions such as:
>What is the influence of the paranormal on our personal and social lives?
>What can researching a societys engagements 
>with the paranormal and alternative knowledges tell us about a culture?
>How should the recent increase in popularisation 
>of the paranormal be interpreted?
>All of these conversations and more will spill 
>over into lunch and coffee breaks and no doubt 
>into the wine reception at the end of the 
>programme. And for the curious and courageous we 
>have also arranged for a Ghost Walk in the 
>Lanes, central Brighton in the evening [limited spaces available].
>
>Keynote Speakers:
>Prof John Harvey (Aberystwyth)
>Dr Anita Biressi and Prof Heather Nunn (Roehampton)
>
>Speakers from Sussex include:
>Prof Sally R Munt (Director of the Sussex Centre for Cultural Studies)
>Dr Alie Bird (Anthropology)
>Dr Olu Jenzen (English and Cultural Studies)
>Dr Tatiana Kontou (English)
>Dr Jon Mitchell (Anthropology)
>Dr Pam Thurschwell (English)
>
>Conference fee: £40 (£15 unwaged and students)includes lunch and refreshments.
>Organisers: Prof Sally R. Munt and Dr Olu Jenzen
>To register please 
>contact:  (o.l.m.jenzen /at/ sussex.ac.uk)<mailto:(o.l.m.jenzen /at/ sussex.ac.uk)>
>Closing date for registrations: 24 May 2010
>For programme and further information visit our 
>website: www.sussex.ac.uk/sccs<http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sccs>
>
>All welcome!
>
>

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Nico Carpentier (Phd)
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University of Brussels
Centre for Studies on Media and Culture (CeMeSO)
Pleinlaan 2 - B-1050 Brussels - Belgium
T: ++ 32 (0)2-629.18.56
F: ++ 32 (0)2-629.36.84
Office: 5B.401a
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European Communication Research and Education Association
Web: http://www.ecrea.eu
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E-mail: (Nico.Carpentier /at/ vub.ac.be)
Web: http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~ncarpent/
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