Calls: Constructions of the Other in Cultural Stereotypes

[Harold Schiffman]

Constructions of the Other in Cultural Stereotypes
Date: 06-May-2009 - 08-May-2009Location: Szczecin, Poland, PolandContact Person: Malgorzata SokolMeeting Email: kfaconferencegmail.com
Linguistic Field(s): Anthropological Linguistics; Discourse Analysis; Ling &Literature; Sociolinguistics; Translation
Call Deadline: 15-Dec-2008
Meeting Description:
Us and Them - Them and Us: Constructions of the Other in Cultural Stereotypes- Perceptions, Challenges, Meanings, May 6-8, 2009, University ofSzczecin, Poland
Call for Papers
We encounter ''them'' every day often unaware of ''their'' constructed naturewhich results from our cultural standards and the perception of ourselves.Preconceptions of the Other are chiefly articulated through stereotypes. Forsociologists stereotypes can initially assist in coming to terms with a complexworld. Then they might serve as a first key to access the previouslyunknown. Inintercultural communication their value is defined by their potential of eitheropening new vistas of other cultures or impeding them. In short stereotypes areambivalent and ambiguous and contribute to shaping identities.
At worst auto- and heterostereotypes have left their traces on culturalrelations between European countries or within allegedly homogeneouscultures asin the United Kingdom. Though ultimately not the cause of wars, stereotypeshelped pave the way to open (World War I and II) and concealed warfare (ColdWar). But even if not taken to the extremes, stereotypes seem to live a life oftheir own against all the odds of rational knowledge.
The conference seeks to examine the constructedness of stereotypes from theangles of many disciplines and will put its focus on cultural relations betweenEurope and anglophone cultures and on patterns of preconception within theanglophone world. Language, literature and the arts are majorconstruction sitesof stereotypes and cultural identities as are children's and classroom books.Translation activities may be considered an original border country of culturalencounters and so are (inter) cultural studies. While media tend by their verynature to foster stereotypes, recent intercultural teaching strategies in theforeign English language classroom strive for the opposite.
The English Philology Department of Szczecin University is pleased toannounce aconference on the issues of identity, stereotypes and linguistic rights. Twentyyears after the fall of the Iron Curtain the organizer conclude thatthe city ofSzczecin, at the crossroads of important European transit routes and located ina sensitive cultural border zone, seems to be an ideal site for thisconference.Under the rule of Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Prussia, Germany andFrance, the cityhas always adjusted well to its inhabitants and their ways of life. Szczecintherefore is ready to bring together East and West and North and South!
Registration fee: 75 EuroDeadline for abstracts: Dec 15, 2008Sent to: kfaconferencegmail.com
Organizing committee:dr. hab. Kamila Turewicz, Prof. USProf. Uwe Zagratzkidr Anna Gonerko-Frejdr Małgorzata Sokółdr Joanna Witkowska
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