CFP: Possessing the Past: Themes in Historiography
Postgraduate/ Early Career Research Conference
University of Liverpool
Saturday June 23rd – Sunday June 24th 2012
Academic treatment of any historical problem entails a proper appreciation both of the relevant primary evidence and of the framework of understanding established by earlier scholarship. Historiography – the study of the way in which evidence and the interpretation of evidence present themselves to the historian – is therefore an essential component of all historical investigations. In the last thirty years many historically oriented disciplines have seen an immense growth in the study of historiography and a number of themes have begun to emerge. The purpose of this conference will be to identify and elucidate some of these common themes, reflect on the role they play in current research in the fields of Classics, English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Politics, and seek to advance an inter-disciplinary understanding of the issues they raise for students of history, intellectual thought and literary representation.
We are therefore inviting postgraduates and early career post-doctoral researchers to submit paper abstracts on topics likely to contribute to a better and broader understanding of current historiographical activity. Such topics might include, but are certainly not limited to:
- Philosophical discourse on the nature of history
- Ethnography as history
- The changing role of the historian/philosopher
- Polemic and self justification
- Alternative narratives and the limits of historiography
- The impact of religion and custom on historiography
- Methodologies and the historian’s reason
- Literary texts as historical sources
Papers will be 20 minutes in length and those accepted for presentation at the conference will be included in revised form in a peer-reviewed online publication. Those interested in being included in the programme are asked to contact Jason Wickham (j.p.wickham@liverpool.ac.uk), indicating name, current institution (if applicable), year of study or position, paper title, and including an abstract of approximately 250 – 300 words. The deadline is Friday February 17th 2012. Space in the programme is limited, and an early response is therefore advisable.
We look forward very much to hearing from you.
David Griffiths, Jan Haywood and Jason Wickham