MCLC: Soundscapes in Contemporary China--cfp

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Andreas Steen <ostas at hum.au.dk>
Subject: Soundscapes in Contemporary China--cfp
***********************************************************

CALL FOR PAPERS

Aarhus University, Denmark / CHIME, 21-24 August, 2014
Sound, Noise and the Everyday – Soundscapes in Contemporary China

China is filled with sounds; indeed, some people would say that it is a
noisy place. Some sounds immediately come to mind, for example those of
music, radio and TV broadcasts, along with blaring loudspeakers, public
announcements and street conversations, or speech/language and
communication more generally. Some types or notions of sound may be
difficult to grasp or to categorize, for example the sound of a city,
sounds of progress, sounds of revolution or sounds of change. ~
Sounds may be deliberately produced (and manipulated), or may be brought
forth unintentionally, and they can be direct and physical or indirect and
abstract (or both at the same time). To all events, sounds appear
everywhere, with a variety of different intentions and meanings; the same
can be said for noise and silence.

Aarhus University and CHIME invite scholars from all disciplines to
explore 'sounds & noise' in China. This conference (featuring for CHIME as
its 18th International Meeting) does not focus on any particular
historical period or research methodology, but seeks for the first time to
bring scholars together who share an interest in aspects related to sound.

Can we identify a specific Chinese sound? If so, where are the roots to be
found, and how did this sound achieve its current form? Sound production,
associations and entanglements, meanings and (listening) effects as well
as issues of promotion, manipulation and elimination will be discussed in
relation to Chinese history, culture, society and politics.

The broader aim of this conference is to establish 'sound' as an
analytical category that provides us with new perspectives on and a new
understanding of China.

The publication of a conference volume is planned.

Possible topics include:
Sound Production, Sound Control
Sound and the State
Sound and Music
Eliminating Noise, Producing Sound
Defining Urban Soundscapes
Defining Rural Soundscapes
Chinese Sounds, Foreign Sounds
Sounds in Chinese History (or Society)
Sound and the Everyday

Abstracts of around 300 words are invited for twenty-minute presentations
on the conference theme. Proposers may also submit panel sessions of a
maximum of 120 minutes (including discussion). In this case, an abstract
of around 300 words should detail the focus of the panel as a whole, with
abstracts of 100-200 words for each contribution. We will also support a
number of poster sessions in the course of the conference, enabling work
in progress to be shared using video/image as well as other media. A brief
description of the material and technical requirements should be submitted
for this.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is February 16, 2014. An early
acceptance policy will be implemented for those in need of conference
confirmation for grant or visa applications. Papers and (especially)
panels addressing the theme of the conference (while referring to
sufficiently specific research) are explicitly encouraged. All abstracts
should be forwarded to: [ostas at hum.au.dk]

A conference web-page with further information will be organized in Fall
2013.

For further information please contact:
Aarhus University
Andreas Steen, Associate Professor, email: ostas at hum.au.dk
Tel. +45-87162375.

CHIME
Frank Kouwenhoven, email: chime at wxs.nl
Tel. +31-71-5133123 or 5133794, Mob. 06-4029.3426~


SINCE THIS MESSAGE WILL BE TRANSFERRED THROUGH DIFFERENT CHANNELS WE
APOLOGIZE BEFOREHAND FOR DOUBLE-DELIVERY AND CROSS-POSTING!

Andreas Steen
Associate Professor
Asian Studies
Institute for Culture and Society
Aarhus University
Bldg. 1465, r. 318
Jens Chr. Skous Vej 7
8000 Aarhus C
Tel.: +45-87162375