Warsaw University
\nGender Studies Center and American Studies Center<\/p>\n
Seeking Queer Alliances: Resisting Dominant Discourses and Institutions
\n7th international queer studies conference<\/p>\n
29-30.08.2006<\/p>\n
As the political climate in many parts of the world turns increasingly conservative, we are asking whether a concept such as global homophobia may be a useful analytical and\/or political tool, and\u2014as a correlate question\u2014 whether queer concepts travel well across political borders and geo-cultural spaces.<\/p>\n
Do dominant discourses that include neo-liberalism as well as fundamentalisms of all kinds, and dominant institutions spanning the state as well as churches, require distinct forms of counterpractice? How to reclaim discourse appropriated by the dominant institutions?<\/p>\n
What are and what could such practices of resistance be? To what
\nextent may our experiences of LGBTQ subjugation and LGBTQ resistance
\nbe shared and also used to mutual advantage? Who may our dialogue
\npartners be for such sharing? What alliances have been formed, and
\nin which locations, for purposes of political activism and for
\nachieving particular strategic aims? What is the place of feminist
\nconcepts in queer theory?<\/p>\n
How is queer theory reflected in political activism, and how have
\nparticular theoretical concepts been adopted for political practice
\nin different cultural contexts? How do activists serve as theorists,
\nhow do theorists serve as political practitioners, and how does the
\nrelationship between those functions manifest itself across contexts?<\/p>\n
What is the role of mutual respect and self-respect in the forming
\nof queer\/LGBTQ alliances across cultural spaces? What are some
\ninternal and external obstacles to communication among queers
\noccupying different social and geographical spaces? What role does
\nthe category of gender play in those different places? And what are
\nthe factors of cohesion from one alliance to another?<\/p>\n
We wish to ask those questions, and others, in the context of the
\ntranslatability of queer concepts across cultural and linguistic
\nspaces, as well as the translatability between the analytical and
\nthe practical uses to which these concepts are put.
\nAs far the format of the conference is concerned, there will be
\ntwelve 90-minute sessions over the course of two days, and a two-
\nhour summing up discussion at the end of each day. We would like
\neach of the 90-minute sessions to be hosted by individuals or teams
\n(“session leaders”) who will be responsible for the theme and form
\nof the session, e.g. workshop, roundtable discussion, conventional
\npanel, panel consisting of several short statements (or “postcards”)
\nfollowed by a discussion, or any other format.
\nWe welcome 200-word proposals for whole 90-minute sessions or
\nindividual papers until May 15th, 2006. The proposals should be sent
\nto:
\nTomasz Basiuk
\nAmerican Studies Center
\nWarsaw University
\nAl. Niepodleglosci 22
\n02-653 Warszawa (Warsaw)
\nPoland
\nFax: (+4822) 5533322
\nOr via e-mail:
\nqueerconference@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Warsaw University Gender Studies Center and American Studies Center Seeking Queer Alliances: Resisting Dominant Discourses and Institutions 7th international queer studies conference 29-30.08.2006 As the political climate in many parts of the world turns increasingly conservative, we are asking whether … Continue reading