Call for papers

Mid-term Conference 2014

RN03 BIOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON EUROPEAN SOCIETIES

50 Year Anniversary of Sociology at Durham

11th-12th September 2014, Durham University

Creative Applications of Biographical Research: Theory, Practice and Policy

Biographical Research and practices as part of human understanding helps people to make sense of what has been and what is happening in their lives, cultures, communities and societies. Rooted in a long history and genealogy, biographical/narrative approaches have developed from a focus upon a single story, a ‘life story’, to encompass autobiographical secondary and archival research and analysis – as well as multi-media and arts based multi-sensory methods.

The mid-term conference 2014 will examine the Theoretical and Methodological underpinnings of Biographical Sociology and the Creative Applications of Biographical Research.

Questions such as what constitutes Biographical Research? What theoretical antecedents influence our work? How do we conduct Biographical Research? How might we apply Biographical Research? What Creative Applications are currently being practiced by Biographical Researchers? How are a new generation of Biographical researchers using biographical methods in their M.A and PhD research?

It is almost three decades since Ken Plummer’s Documents of Life and his statement that “a major theme haunts this book. It is a longing for social science to take more seriously its humanistic foundations and to foster styles of thinking that encourage the creative, interpretive story telling of lives…”(The Documents of Life 2, p.1).

The interim conference aims to do just that – to theorise, apply and encourage the theoretical, creative, interpretive story telling of lives.

Abstracts of up to 300 words are welcome on the following themes:

Creative applications of biographical methods;
Theorizing biographical research;
Archiving biographical Research;
Ethnography and Auto-ethnography;
Workshops on doing biographical/narrative research and analyzing data;
Open Stream

Papers are welcome on a range of topics including: feminisms, gender, sexualities, crime, violence, politics, the body, sport, health and well-being, youth and communities.

Speakers include:

Professor Kaja Kazmierska, Institute of Sociology, University of Lodz.
Dr Áine O’Brien, Co-Director Counterpoints Arts
Photographer Dr John Perivolaris ‘In Conversation’ with Professor Brian Roberts

Jane Arnfield will perform The Tin Ring by holocaust survivor Zdenka Fantlová
Adapted from the book by Mike Alfreds & Jane Arnfield.
Produced by Human Remain

Call for Papers deadline: Monday 19th May
Decisions by the organising committee: Friday 30th May

Abstracts: We invite colleagues from different countries and different disciplines of the social sciences to submit abstracts of not more than 300 words until 19th May 2014.
Please send your abstracts to: biographicalmethods-conference@durham.ac.uk

Expressions of interest for research workshops are welcome, with reference to the topic of the conference. Poster presentations and other forms of presentation are also welcome.

Conference Fee: Conference Registration, refreshments, lunches and conference Dinner: £70 / 85 Euros. Concessions for postgraduate researchers. £56/68Euros

Conference venue: Josephine Butler College, Durham University. Josephine Butler College is Durham’s youngest College. It is a short 20 minute walk into Durham City and there is also a bus directly outside the College. https://www.dur.ac.uk/butler.college/postgraduate/facilities/

Accommodation: The conference venue, Josephine Butler College, offers single en-suite study bedrooms at a very reasonable rate. Accommodation is also available at a variety of hotels and bed and breakfasts in Durham City. Please see: http://www.thisisdurham.com/accommodation

Registration/College Accommodation: Registration will be available from May 2014 and up to July 30th 2014.

If you have any questions, please contact: Maggie O’Neill: maggie.o’ neill@durham.ac.uk
OR, Kaja Kazmierska: kajakaz@uni.lodz.pl

Durham City and Durham University

Durham is a very beautiful city. The author Bill Bryson, who was Chancellor of Durham University, described Durham as: “A huge amount of history, a huge amount of beauty, and a great deal of friendliness”. Durham City is a World Heritage Site – Durham World Heritage Site was inscribed by UNESCO in 1986 (among the first UK sites to be listed) in recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value. Durham Cathedral, built between 1093 and 1133, is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe. Durham Castle was commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1072 and over the centuries has been the residence of the Bishops of Durham. The Castle was given to Durham University by Bishop Van Mildert in 1832 and is now a College.
To read more about Durham’s history go to: http://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/heritage
Durham Tourist Information: http://www.thisisdurham.com/visitor-info

Source: ESA Monthly Bulletin – May 2014