Continental Philosophy

Second Annual Philosophy and the Arts
Conference at Stony Brook Manhattan
March 27-28, 2009
Keynote Speaker – Dr. Richard Kearney,
Charles B. Seelig Chair of Philosophy at Boston College

The Masters program in Philosophy and the Arts at Stony Brook University in Manhattan studies the intersections of art and philosophy. In our efforts to further the dialogue between traditionally disparate fields of study, we offer this conference as an interdisciplinary event. We welcome participants from a variety of fields and media to respond to this year’s topic:

RENDER – Yielding Narrativity

Narrativity can be construed in many ways. We might understand it as the testimonial quality of subjective accounts and expressions, the process of reception and interpretation by an audience, or even as the force that impels our narrative-making amidst concurrent impressions and experiences. Art and philosophy offer some of the most incisive interpretations and portrayals of narrativity as it unfolds in history, culture, and daily life. Where the rendering of narrativity evokes tension between intended trajectories and their disruption, between compulsion and material constraints, we open our discussion. For example, how does the dynamic force of narrativity engage temporality and spatiality? In what ways can meditation on narrativity challenge hegemonic structures of communication, experience, and truth? Where narrativity concerns both a creator and an audience, how do we grapple with issues of integrity, participation, accuracy, catharsis, and relinquishment? What use can we make of the inexpressible—sublimity, myth, inspiration—in acts of expression? With numerous questions remaining to be explored, we hope to create a diverse, inviting dialogue on narrative accounts of subjective experience and reality through art and theory.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

We invite the submission of original papers appropriate to these themes from graduate students across disciplines. Complete papers should be formatted for blind review and submitted via email philosophyartconference@gmail.com as a Word document (.doc). Please include a 300-500 word abstract and a separate cover sheet with the author’s name, paper title, institutional affiliation, mailing address, and email address. Papers should be suitable for a 20-minute presentation (8-10 pages). Papers must be received by January 14th, 2009.

We welcome the submission of work for exhibition or performance that relates to our theme in any media, and about which the artists are willing to present or engage in dialogue. Please submit your work digitally via email philosophyartconference@gmail.com (files should not exceed a total of 3MB), or on a CD-ROM with no more than five (5) .jpg images or three (3) minutes of video, film, or sound. Include an explanation of how your work relates to our theme and a proposal for presentation, installation, and/or performance at the conference. Further details about the submissions of work for exhibition or performance are available at the conference website.Submissions must be received by January 14th, 2009. CD-ROM submissions should be mailed to:

Philosophy Art Conference Submissions
C/O Dr. Megan Craig
Philosophy Department, Stony Brook University
244 Harriman Hall
Stony Brook, NY 11794

The conference will take place on Friday and Saturday March 27th and 28th at Stony Brook Manhattan, 401 Park Ave. South. For further information and updates, please consult http://www.philosophartconference.org. Please contact philosophyartconference@gmail.com with any questions.