An international interdisciplinary colloquium examining the nature of prayer as performance in late medieval and early modern culture
This project seeks to explore aspects of prayer as a performative act in European culture during the late medieval and early modern period, considering these findings in light of the most current theoretical and anthropological perspectives. An intentionally interdisciplinary effort, it will draw together studies of literature, material culture and religious anthropology. The project intends to answer the following questions:
Papers are invited from those who work on prayer during this period, either through language, material culture, social practice or from a more theoretical perspective. The aim will be share research, whether it be an examination of the architecture created to facilitate prayer, the texts created to preserve, stimulate, guide or police prayer (poetry, hymns, sermons, or polemic), or more scientific attempts to define a person or community’s relationship to the practice of prayer.
Please submit proposals of 150 words for papers of 20 minutes in length. Panels on specific aspects of early modern prayer will also be considered and should include a brief summary of the panel focus with 150 word proposals of each paper included in the panel. All submissions should be made via email (prayer@hum.au.dk) by 15 October 2011.
Co-organised by the School of Communication and Culture and the School of Culture and Society, both at Aarhus University, in conjunction with the School of English, Bangor University, Wales.