VIOLENCE ON STAGE
III INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
AMERICAN THEATRE AND DRAMA
Cádiz, Spain. May 27-29, 2009
DUE TO THE MANY APPLICATIONS AND REQUESTS FOR AN EXTENSION,
WE HAVE DECIDED TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE TO OCTOBER 25, 2008
Ever since the Greeks, drama and violence have rarely been far from one another, at least within the Western dramatic tradition. The staging of violence, aside from being, however sadly, a representation of one of the most powerful and recurrent of human traits, can also be a reflection of larger social and cultural forces. A nation, the United States, whose very existence and continuity cannot be adequately explained without violence, either through its use or its (intended) containment, would not possibly have given rise to a dramatic tradition where such a thing was absent. At least serious drama in America has often resorted to literal or figurative violence to pass judgment on an unfair, violently repressive society, to denounce the self-deceiving drives of many individuals, to expose the brutalizing effects of traditional family patterns and the violent exclusion of (non-mainstream or otherwise) individuals from the American Dream or to (violently) break with inherited theatrical forms and open up new avenues of artistic experimentation. We believe that an exploration of the role of violence in American theatre and drama will result in fruitful and fresh insights into a dramatic tradition which has rarely been approached from this angle. Among the specific issues which may be addressed for the conference, and always through their representation on the American stage, are:
• Violence, conflict and war.
• Gender violence.
• Race-related violence.
• Homophobic violence.
• Institutional violence.
• Violence in the workplace.
• Violence-abuse, mobbing, harassment, bullying.
• Psychological violence.
• Theatrical theories of violence (Grotowski, Artaud, The Living Theatre,...)
• The American Dream, its failure and subsequent generation of violence.
• The aesthetics of violence. Theatrical strategies for the representation of violence.
• The history of violence.
• Social and structural violence.
• Linguistic violence.
• Audience and violence.
The conference will take place on May 27, 28 and 29, 2009, in Cádiz, one of the oldest and nicest cities in Europe (site to an ancient Roman theatre), situated in southern Spain and literally sieged by the often violent but always suggestive ocean, in an environment propitious for scholarly reflection and the exchange of ideas. Across the Cádiz bay lies the US Rota Military Base, a useful reminder of the kind of world we live in and the role of violence in it. The University of Cádiz is one of the most modern in all Spain and will prove an excellent venue for the conference, being provided with the most upgraded technological infrastructure. The city, on the other hand, boasts one of the mildest climates in Southern Europe and offers a rich cultural background and ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. Among the keynote speakers that will honor the conference are Paula Vogel , Cheryl Black , John Frick , and Bob Vorlicky .
Those wishing to present a paper at the conference or organize a round-table discussion should send a 500-word abstract, in English, by October 25, 2008 ( NEW DEADLINE ), to the following e-mail address: berceo@gmail.com
Authors of accepted papers will receive confirmation of acceptance by December 15, 2008. The organizers intend to publish a volume of essays based on a selection of the papers presented at the conference. Authors will be duly informed of the norms for manuscript submission and the editors' expectations for such a volume. For upgraded information on the conference please visit our web page: