The Fourth Forum of Critical Studies: Asking Big Questions Again, 23 – 24 October 2015, Lucca, Italy

Publish Date: Sep 01, 2015

Deadline: Sep 20, 2015

Event Dates: from Oct 23, 2015 12:00 to Oct 24, 2015 12:00

Some say that the 21st Century or modernity altogether made humans more concerned with doing rather than being. As the classical Greek civilization valued most the reflexive thinking as a form of freedom from natural necessities, contemporary times profoundly involve individuals and the imaginary accompanying social practices in a restless logic of consumption, competition and engagement that profoundly – or some would say, radically – suspends or indefinitely postpones the autonomous capacity of human beings to question and reflect upon the social order and the meaning of social practices. The fast advancement of a peculiar logic of post-industrial societies, the gradual dissolution of alternative models to the capitalist logic and a multitude of other alerting factors pushed ahead a global spread culture of one-dimensional productions of meaning that advances a closure rather than a constant reflexive re-evaluation of cultural and social practices.

Many alternatives at hand are often condemned to marginality or lost in the quasi-plural practices where everything goes as long as it’s part of an intellectual market. The ‘fatal strategies’ of post-industrial societies to keep individuals captive, busy and seduced by contingent social arrangements and economic practices minimized the questioning detachment required to evaluate and give meaning through reflexive criticism and unlimited interrogation. Various labels were given to our unfolding times from apocalyptic ones to some more comforting yet, not by chance, lacking some vital optimism. Despite a wide-spread discontent and suspicion towards daily realities of our current societies, most of big questions are often left outside by the self-involved active pursuit of an imagined well-being that is no longer transgressed by harsh critical evaluation of its meaning. The academic arena itself also advances, supports, integrates and promotes limited particular methodologies that generate an effect of mainstreaming and often keeps researchers or practitioners out of the battle-ground for big questions.

 

The ongoing economic crisis made reality even harsher and pushed ahead the need for more thinking as many habitual categories lost their meaning or relevance. New ways of thinking could transgress some inappropriate conceptions or misconceptions that preserve their centrality due to the mechanics of habit. This is a time when a call to thinking is well-placed. This is a call to arms for critical studies that promotes alternative, questioning and multidimensional thinking. It is based on the belief that thinking more is asking more and the answers come from creative constructive reasoning if left unbiased.

The Fourth Euroacademia Global Forum of Critical Studies aims to bring into an open floor the reflexive and questioning interaction among academics, intellectuals, practitioners and activists profoundly concerned with evaluative understandings of the world we’re living in. The focus of the forum is to initiate an arena where no question is misplaced and irrelevant as long as we acknowledge that evaluation, critical thinking and contestation are accessible trajectories to better understand our past, present and alternative scenarios for the future. The Forum is also an open stage for sharing existing or ready formed intellectual visions and expose them to dialogue and scrutiny in a critically reflective environment.

Participant’s Profile

The conference is addressed to academics, intellectuals, researchers andprofessionals, practitioners and activists profoundly concerned with evaluative understandings of the world we’re living in. As the nature of the conference is intended to be multidisciplinary in nature and dialogical in practice, different academic backgrounds are equally welcomed.

Post-graduate students, doctoral candidates and young researchers are welcomed to submit an abstract. Representatives of INGOs, NGOs, Think Tanks and activists willing to present their work, research, experiences or reflections are welcomed as well to submit the abstract of their contribution. Euroacademia does not promote the ‘byzantine’ association of people with their institutions. As well the distinction between senior and junior researchers is not applied as a cleavage.

Abstracts will be reviewed and the participants are selected based on the proven quality of the abstract. The submitted paper for the conference proceedings is expected to be in accordance with the lines provided in the submitted abstract.

Registration and Fee

Registrations Fee is 225 Euro

The Participation Fee Includes:

  • the registration fee
  • participant’s package with all the materials for the conference
  • eligibility for publishing of the presentation in the conference volume
  • a copy of the electronic volume
  • access to Euroacademia discussion group and newsletters
  • 2 daily coffee brakes with typical Italian snacks and refreshing drinks during the conference (water/sodas)
  • sparkling wine Tuscan aperitivo with snacks on 23rd of October 2015
  • a 4 course Tuscan specialties lunch on 23rd of October 2015
  • a 4 course Tuscan specialties lunch on 24th of October 2015
  • certificate of attendance
  • access to optional social program
  • an optional guided walking tour of Lucca on Sunday 25th of October 2015 in the morning with the possibility to visit also the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Leaning Tower in Pisa in the afternoon

Please be aware that the final confirmation of attendance will be considered upon the payment of the participation fee until the 28th of September 2015 in the Euroacademia account:

Euroacademia

Name of the Bank: Belfius

Bank account IBAN: BE45 0688 9724 6589
BIC: GKCCBEBB

Branch: Agence BARRIERE – CHAUSSEE DE WATERLOO 216, 1060, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

The participation fee can be paid only through bank transfer . A confirmation of receipt will be sent to selected participants by e-mail together with the scanned invoice. The original invoice will be delivered to accepted participants on site at the conference.
 
Unfortunately, Euroacademia has no available funds for covering transport and accommodation to/in Lucca. Participants are responsible for securing funding from their institutes of affiliation to cover transportation and accommodation costs during the whole period of the conference. Official invitation letters can be sent by Euroacademia to the financing institution to confirm the selection and participation in the conference upon request.

Important Dates & Deadlines
5 September 2015 Deadline for Submitting Panel Proposals
20 September 2015 300 words abstracts and details of affiliation
21st of September 2015 Latest notification of acceptance
24th of September 2015 Sending the Registration Form
28th of September 2015 Payment of the conference participation fee
10th of October 2015 Sending the draft paper to be uploaded on the web site of the conference
12th of October 2015 Publication of the conference program and uploading the draft papers on the website
23rd of October 2015 The conference commences at 9.00 am

http://www.romstudyabroad.com/


This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:

http://euroacademia.eu/conference/fourth-forum-of-critical-studies/

Similar Opportunities


Disciplines

Social Sciences

Eligible Countries

International

Host Countries

Italy

Event Types

Meetings