Call For Papers: Trans- States: The art of crossing over

By John Freeman on March 8, 2016

Alan Moore. Photo: Pruneau

A Call For Papers has gone out for a conference titled Trans- States: The art of crossing over, which will take place at the University of Northampton, 9 – 10th September, 2016 – and whose speakers will include Alan Moore.

trans – prefix meaning: across, beyond, through, on the other side of, to go beyond

state: a condition or way of being that exists at a particular time

An unabashed play on words, a trans- state is, among other things, a coincidentia oppositorum. An alchemical wedding that defines the fixed place, where boundaries are actively transgressed.

In many ways, this very undertaking is where the role of the magician, mystic and artist collide. Down at the crossroads, where possibilities are collapsed into actualities, by the wondrous act of a conscious decision: there lies the place of suffering and surrender; of realisation and redemption.

This is a transdisciplinary conference that will explore representations in contemporary visual culture of boundary crossing, liminality and queerification with specific reference to occultism, mysticism, shamanism and other esoteric and spiritual practices.

Two very exciting keynote speakers have been confirmed for the conference

Alan Moore – World-renowned author and artist (titles include Watchmen, From Hell, Promethea and co-authorship of the upcoming The Moon and Serpent Bumper Book of Magic)

Dr Richard Kaczynksi – Author and research affiliate, Yale University. Dr Kaczynksi is an expert in social psychology, metaphysical beliefs and new religious movements, and is widely known for his biography Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley.

Web: www.richard-kaczynski.com

Dr Marco Pasi – Associate Professor in the History of Hermetic philosophy and related currents at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). Dr Pasi is the general editor of the Aries Book Series (Brill), board member of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE) and an expert in modern esotericism and art.

Call For Proposals:

Proposals by academics, independent scholars, practitioners and artists are welcomed. The conference aims to promote not only the blending of disciplines, but also non-normative approaches to the theme. As such joint proposals, collaborations, practitioner-based activities, pre-formed panels and performances are very welcome, as well as individual submissions and papers.

Also welcomed are short film screenings; installations; visually interactive talks and workshops.

The following list of ‘trans- states’ has been provided as inspiration for proposal ideas:

Transcendental
Transformation
Transmutation
Transmedia
Transgender, Transexual, Gender Queer, Androgyne
Transitions and liminality
Transmissions
Transcultural
Transdermal and body modification
Transfixion
Transference
Transdisciplinary
Transfiguration
Transgression
Transhumanism
Transmigration and metempsychosis
Transnatural art and design
Transpersonal
Transubstantiation

What to send:

Abstracts or proposals should be 250-300 words and should be sent by Sunday 20th March, as an email attachment, in a text document, to the following: cavan.mclaughlin@northampton.ac.uk In the case of performances or other activities, please include details in your proposal of any additional requirements you may have.

You should also include a short biog of no more than 250 words.

Please use the subject line of: Trans- States Conference Submission

Applicants may be from any background, with no minimum education levels, although are expected to demonstrate expertise in their area of interest. This must be summarised in the biography.

The document should be sent in the following format: (1) contributor(s), (2) affiliation as you would like it to appear in programme, (3) mail, (4) title of proposal, (5) body of abstract/proposal, (6) biog.
Web: http://trans-states.org

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.