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-------- Original Message -------- Subject: CFP: New Perspectives on Religion and Theatre (10/20/05; ATHE 2006 8/3-8/6/06) Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 19:27:42 -0400 From: jill stevenson <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: PERFORM - Medieval Performing Arts <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] ***REMINDER**** New Perspectives on Religion and Theatre: A Debut Panel The Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) 2006 Conference Chicago, August 3-6, 2006 Religion is no longer a topic that can be ignored by theatre scholars and practitioners. Questions of religion inform many of the issues raised in our local, national and global communities. Our headlines – stem-cell research, Terri Schiavo, the presentation of the Ten Commandments, prayer in schools, suicide bombers, the death of a Pope, gay marriage – all revolve around the public presentation of religious belief. The debate surrounding Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ has been replaced by a debate over how the religious themes in The Da Vinci Code should be handled as the book is transformed into a movie. Why do performances that offer religious images often ignite heated debate? Does performance challenge or threaten religion in ways that other media do not? Why does the particular union of religion and theatre often bring anti-theatrical prejudices so immediately to the surface? Religious performances surround us. Whether these take the form of controversies, violence, community events, annual tradition, private practice, or public statement, religious performance has always played a significant role in shaping cultures. Open to anyone who has yet to present at a major academic conference, this debut panel is sponsored by ATHE’s Religion and Theatre Focus Group and provides a unique forum for exploring the various historical, theoretical, and practical intersections of religion and theatre. Why have cultures often expressed religion through performance? What does theatre offer religion and religion offer theatre? Does our interpretation of theatre change once religious ideas or investments are engaged? What is the place of religion in our discussions about and teaching of theatre? How can religious performances of the past inform our current historical moment? Please send your one page abstract to Jill Stevenson at [log in to unmask] Include your name, a short bio including affiliation, the title of your paper, mailing address, phone number, and email address with your submission. If applicable, you must also specify what AV equipment you will require. The deadline for abstracts is October 20th. You can find out more about ATHE at www.athe.org. Jill Stevenson Graduate Student Representative Religion and Theatre Focus Group, ATHE -- Abigail Ann Young (Dr), Associate Editor/ Records of Early English Drama/ Victoria College/ 150 Charles Street W/ Toronto Ontario Canada Phone (416) 585-4504/ FAX (416) 813-4093/ [log in to unmask] List-owner of REED-L <http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/reed-l.html> http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/reed.html => REED's home page http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/stage.html => our theatre resource page http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~young => my home page