[Commlist] CFP: Metaphor & Misinformation conference

Call for Papers: “Metaphor & Misinformation: Religion in Media-Driven 
Worlds”

*2023 Conference of the International Society for Media, Religion 
andCulture *

Conference location: CERES Bochum (Germany)

Conference dates: 2-5 of August 2023

Deadlinefor Paper proposals:28January 2023 *[Deadline Extended] *

Notification of acceptances: End of February 2023

The history of religion, and current debates regarding spirituality, are 
full of diverse metaphors thatareusedto  communicatecomplex ideas. 
Deities are often described as animals or objectsthattake on human 
characteristics.  Believers are envisioned asa flock or aship’screw.The 
religious lives ofindividualsareexplained as ajourney,  an 
apprenticeship, a struggle, ora path.These metaphors are woven into 
myths that help make the intangible
accessible andcreate personal worldviews. Yetin an age of fake newsand 
post-truth,the use of images and  narratives can complicatealready 
complex discussions of religion in the mediatedpublic sphere.

In light of this, weinvite papersthat exploretheconcepts of metaphors 
and the communication ofreligious
information within media cultures throughout history. We believe these 
analysesoffer an opportunity to explore
metaphorical differencesand similarities across cultural perspectives. 
It willalso enable a theoreticalreflection on  the ways in which we 
usemetaphorsto conceive ofthe relationship between media,technology, and 
religion and  the structuralimplicationsof the metaphors we useinour 
scholarly work.

Media, for example, has been describedby Birgit Meyer and others 
asdevices that bridge the gap between the
immanent andtranscendent spheres. Other examples include Christian 
Nationalism, which often envisions

political leadersin “messianic”roles working “miracles” using God Talk. 
Or corporate marketers who create
“brand cults” that rely on mythologies,imagery, and indoctrination 
strategies similar to new religious movements.

The historical rootsand evolution of these metaphors can bring clarity 
to the social consequences that we face
today. Legacy media created and conceptualized different eras as 
media“worlds.” “Miscommunication” becomes the narrative for explaining 
fake news,religion-like conspiracy theories, orfilter bubbles. 
Importantly, metaphors  form the elementary parts of 
ourlinguisticcommunication, which evoke religiousbeliefs andethos for 
different
groups. Religiousconceptssuch as conversion orredemption, whichare 
linked to religiousexperiences, carry

withthem mixed messages that canbe easily skewed or weaponized 
whentransitioned intosecular media
discourses.

We are alsointerestedin papersfrom religious communicators, and 
encourage collaborations with thoseinthe
fieldsof history, theology, semiotics, linguistics, philosophy, and 
popular cultureto reflect onthese themes. For  example, how do 
mediaoutlets andinfluencers use metaphors toteach or discussmeaning, 
purpose,orinfluence?  What isthe outcome of these framings?

With the relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions,this conference will serve 
asthe biennial meeting ofthe International  Society forMedia, Religion, 
and Culture, withtheaim of exploring theseissuesfrom a range of disciplinary
perspectives. Sinceits firstmeeting back in 1996,theconference has 
become the leading international gathering  forthe discussionofresearch 
inreligion, media, andculture.

Confirmed key notes and speakersinclude:TBD

The conference invites proposals for panels and roundtable sessionsas 
wellasindividualpapers.of up to 350  words. Panelandroundtable proposals 
should alsoinclude papertitles, 150-word abstractsfor each paper,and  
names and titlesof up tofour participants(inadditiona panel moderator or 
respondentcanalso beincluded).

Please notethat conferenceattendees are not allowedto be includedin more 
than two presentations(i.e., present  on a paneland offer apaper, take 
partin a panel and a roundtable, orhave theirnames listed ontwo papers).

Paperand panel sessions conducted in otherlanguagesthan 
English(German-Spanish-French) will be considered,  however, abstracts 
shouldbe provided both in Englishand the proposed language 
forsuchsubmissions.

Potential panel, workshop,and paper proposals may address, but are not 
limitedto, thefollowing themes:

• Informationand misinformation inreligious communication

• Religious metaphors in past and presenttimes

• Humor and religion

• Religious freedom and blasphemy

• Sacred texts and metaphors

• Religionand conspiracy theories

• Media and the contested visibility of religion

• Genderand metaphors

• Social media and religious metaphors

• Media and the politicization of metaphors

• Metaphor andreligious nationalism

• Metaphor & misinformation: Religionin media-driven worlds in 
publictheology
• Media and varieties of non-religion

• Media, religion and metaphorsin a global perspective

• Historical media, material religion and metaphors

• Religions aslandscapes,cities,objects

• Truth,filterbubblesand fake news

More information aboutthe conference a 
<https://www.ismrc.org>bstractsubmissionand registration process will 
beavailable onthe  ISMRC webpage: https://www.ismrc.org 
<https://www.ismrc.org>

The conference willtake placein Bochum, G 
<https://ceres.rub.de/en/>ermany, in conjunction with the Center for 
Religious Studies atRuhr  University-Bochum: https://ceres.rub.de/en/ 
<https://ceres.rub.de/en/>

For information aboutthe venue, housin 
<https://www.ismrc.org/2023-conference>gand transportation see the 
conference page: https://www.ismrc.org/2023-conference 
<https://www.ismrc.org/2023-conference>

We warmly welcome you to Germany and ISMRC in 2023!

Miriam Diez Bosch, Director. Blanquerna Observatory on Media, Religion 
and Culture(Ramon Lull University), Conference Program Planner a 
<mailto:(miriamdb /at/ blanquerna.url.edu)>nd Vice President, International 
Society forMedia, Religion,and Culture:
(miriamdb /at/ blanquerna.url.edu) <mailto:(miriamdb /at/ blanquerna.url.edu)>

Heidi A Campbell, Professor,Texas A&M University, President, 
International Society forMedia, Religion,and  Culture President, 
International Society for Media, Religion, and Culture

Tim Karis, Managing Director, Centerfor Religious Studies (CERES), Ruhr 
University Bochum.  Local  Conference Host.


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