The Society for Tantric Studies invites papers for its next
conference, to be held in Flagstaff, Arizona
from Friday September 24 through Sunday
September 26, 2010. The
Society for Tantric Studies (STS), founded in 1985, is a forum of exchange for
scholars engaged in the academic study of Tantra both in its traditional Asian
contexts and more recently in diverse global manifestations. The conference provides an opportunity for scholars
to collaborate across traditional boundaries of religious traditions (e.g.
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism), present-day nation-states and geography (e.g. India,
Tibet, China,
Japan), and
academic disciplines (e.g. history of religions, anthropology, art history,
linguistics, sociology). Above all, the
STS is committed to critical and creative inquiry. It is not an advocacy
forum for Tantric practice and neither endorses nor prohibits particular approaches
to either the study or the practice of Tantra. Scholars with doctorates in related academic disciplines (such as
Religion, Asian Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Art, History,
Philosophy ,or Women’s Studies) researching and/or teaching in relevant areas
of Tantric Studies are encouraged and invited to present, attend, and/or
participate in the conference.Graduate
students in any of these disciplines are also encouraged to present and attend
the conference. Scholars and graduate
students are welcome to attend without presenting.
We invite fully formed panels and individual papers. Proposals should be no longer than 1,000
words. Abstracts should be no longer
than 150 words. In addition, all participants
should include a CV (maximum 2 pages) and a brief statement explaining what
they hope to get from attending the conference.
Digital versions (preferably in
.pdf format) of proposals and abstracts, as well as CVs and statements should
be emailed to Glen A. Hayes, Dept. of Religion, Bloomfield
College at tantricstudies@gmail.com. PROPOSALS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN June
15, 2010.. Acceptance of
papers will be sent out by July 15,
2010.
Some of the themes suggested by members of the Society
include, but are not limited to, the following topics: Tantra and
Power (royal, spiritual, magical); Tribal
Elements in Tantra
;
Women in
Tantra (symbolically, literally, textually, ethnographically); Tantric Art
and Tantric Texts; Tantric
Textual Theories of Practice and their Limits; Tantra and
Aesthetics; Tantra,
Physiology, and Landscape; Texts and
Translations; Tantric
Metaphors; Tantric
Typologies of Self
; Tantric
Studies in 2010: The State of the Field; Critical
Reflections on Western Approaches to Tantric Studies.
LOCATION:
The conference and accommodations will be at the lovely
Little America Hotel, situated amidst a pine-forested mountain in Flagstaff,
Arizona.
Special conference rates begin at $99 for single or double. A block of rooms will be held for conference
attendees until August 23 You may visit their website at: www.littleamerica.com/flagstaff/. A restaurant and coffee shop are located on
the premises. Attendees should fly into Phoenix
and either drive up to Flagstaff
(approximately 2 hours) or take a connecting flight into Flagstaff
airport. We recommend staying for an
extra day or two to arrange for visits to the Grand Canyon
(2 hours), Sedona (1 hour), and Meteor Crater (1 hour)---among the many local
attractions.
FEES: Attendees will
pay a fee of $75 ($35 for graduate students) to cover conference and STS
expenses.
This web site is still under construction, but you may contact the Society at the following email address: tantricstudies@gmail.com. Thank you for your interest in Tantric Studies and be sure to check back in the future.
