Postgraduate course in Dubrovnik

[Aida Bagic]

Dear friends and colleagues,

you may be interested in the following announcement. Please apply only if
you can secure your own funding (deadline for those needing financial
assistance is unfortunately over).

It would be nice to see some of you in Dubrovnik...

warm regards,

Aida
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Aida Bagic, Andjela Nuica 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Mobile phones: +385 91 5211310 (Zagreb); +381 63 85 22 865 (Belgrade)
Centre for Women's Studies Zagreb, Croatia
OSI International Policy Fellowship 2001-2002
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GENDER AND NATION, TRADITION AND TRANSITION

Postgraduate course

Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik, Croatia

May 20-25, 2002


The Centre for Women's Studies, Zagreb and the Institute of Ethnology and
Folklore Research, Zagreb are pleased to announce the holding of its third
postgraduate course Gender and Nation, Tradition and Transition at
Inter-University Centre Dubrovnik (www.iuc.hr), Croatia on May 20-25, 2002.
The course will be co-directed by Lada Cale Feldman, Renata Jambresic Kirin
(Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research & Centre for Women's Studies,
Zagreb) Joanna Regulska (Rutgers University, USA), and Zarana Papic (Centre
for Women's Studies, Belgrade).

Topic:

The primary focus of the course will be on cultural modes of representing
nation and gender across borders and the limits of the new European order
from parallel perspectives of ethno-anthropology, performance studies,
history and gender studies. This course will also examine what kinds of
epistemological guidelines and ethnographic modes can help scholars and
activists describe new trans-disciplinary, trans-national, and
trans-cultural scientific, civic and popular realignments, particularly in
post-socialist contexts. The course will examine new ways of capitalist
reproduction of gender stereotypes versus cultural traditions as sources of
(re)producing feminisation and masculinisation of social spaces,
institutions and practices, alternative cultural activities and movements as
types of resistance to discrimination, prejudices and intolerance, as well
as the phenomena of "glocalization" in popular and mass cultures.

The objectives of the course are to:

- fulfil the need for intersecting gender studies and feminist theory as a
means of bridging reflection and activism

- conceptualise different feminist ethno-anthropologies as a way of reducing
paternalism and biases of cultural representations in post-socialist
settings guided by Western canons and authorities

-analyse the role of traditional heritage and ethnic cultures in the new
modes of (re)production of gender stereotypes and gendered modes of
resistance

- emphasise the role of gendered memories in acquiring new skills and
abilities to face political and social changes

- detect the engendered manipulation in political iconography and cultural
practices, particularly in terms of militarisation and pacification

- demonstrate how the engendering of cultural performances follows their
function as sites of redefinition of (national) ideologies

- denounce the gendered ideology of roots, locality and belonging reflected
in post-communist countries and transitional countries

- rethink identities through cross-cultural affiliations



Eligibility:

The IUC courses are conducted at a postgraduate level. All postgraduate
students interested in the topic may apply for attendance. The course will
be limited to 20 attendees, in order to provide sufficient space for
discussion. The attendees should seek funds from their own institutions to
cover the travel costs and accommodation. Financial support is limited for
participants from Central and Eastern Europe.


Application Procedure:

A short narrative explaining your interest in the topic and your C.V.
(please include your current contact information at the top of your C.V.)
should be submitted by e-mail to zenstud at zamir.net, subject: IUC Dubrovnik
2002, or by fax + 385 1 48 72 406. The registration deadline is February 10,
2002 in order for the course organisers to apply for funding possibilities.


Contact Information:

Annika M. Gifford at zenstud at zamir.net

Centre for Women's Studies Zagreb

Berislaviceva 12, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Tel/fax: + 385 1 487 2406