Conference: Belief Systems and the Place of Desire (U of Melbourne, Australia, 1-3 October 2001)

[Serguei Alex. Oushakine]

Belief Systems and the Place of Desire
The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, 1-3 October 2001


The third conference of the International Association for the Study of Sex,
Culture and Society (IASSCS) is being hosted by Key Centre for Women's
Health in Society at the University of Melbourne, with Lenore Manderson as
convenor and program chair.

The theme of this conference has been chosen to foreground how belief
systems and institutions structure and constrain modes of living, pattern
the expression of sexual and gender identity, and shape desire and pleasure.
We are concerned particularly with formal belief systems and ideologies,
including those of major religions. Few people involved in the study of
sexuality have addressed such questions, in part because of a
(mis)perception of the antipathy of both religious and political ideology
towards sexual pleasure and sexual diversity. This has meant that much of
the theorizing and writing about sexuality has failed to engage with the
institutions and meaning systems that dominate the lives of most people. It
seems to us timely and important to redress this omission, to explore how
formal systems control and create spaces for the expression of sexuality,
how they give meaning to sexuality and desire, and how individuals resist
dominate ideologies in different social contexts.

Keynote addresses and a number of special panels focus on areas of interest
across the social sciences and humanities, that present theoretical and
empirical challenges. Plenary sessions will be held at the start of each day
and after lunch, and each will involve one speaker and one discussant - they
include Marina Mahathir (president of the National HIV/AIDS program in
Malaysia) and highly acclaimed Indian filmmaker Rahul Roy.  Other sessions
allow for panels and presentations of research papers. In these, the
emphasis will be on brief presentations and open discussion.

We expect around 250-300 participants at the conference, over half from
Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.  There is also an open panel at the
Ian Potter Gallery on 30 September. Hotel accommodation and travel
arrangements need to be done soon - places are filling up because of Aussie
Rules Grand Final and the Fringe Festival and the ICAAP (Aids in Asia and
the Pacific) conference).

Check the website for details -- preliminary program has been posted.
See http://www.kcwh.unimelb.edu.au/sexconf.html



Lenore Manderson
Professor of Women's Health and Director
Key Centre for Women's Health in Society
WHO Collaborating Centre for Women's Health
Department of Public Health
School of Population Health
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences
The University of Melbourne
Mailing address: Melbourne Vic 3010
Australia
Street address: 305 Cardigan St, Carlton
Phone   613   8344 4445 (direct); 8344 4333 (general office)
Fax     613   9347 9824
URL:    http://www.kcwh.unimelb.edu.au

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                http://members.home.net/lists/seelangs/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------