Performing the Invisible: Masculinities in the English-Speaking World
Deadline: 15/04/2010
Performing the Invisible: Masculinities in the English-Speaking World
(25th - 26th September 2010 - La Sorbonne Nouvelle)
A conference organized by CREW (EA 4399) and PRISME (4398)
Over the past thirty years a first generation of men’s studies has offered a discussion of gender trying to uncover what Michael Kimmel has called “invisible,” or “genderless,” masculinity, and study men “as men.” Within this time period, the notion of ‘hegemonic masculinity’, as defined by R.W. Connell, has dominated conversations within the field of men’s studies. First understood as a unified normative practice guaranteeing men’s domination over women, hegemonic masculinity is now defined as “a hybrid bloc that unites practices from diverse masculinities” (Demetrakis Z. Demetriou) and also ensures domination over subordinated masculinities.
This international transdisciplinary conference will allow us to re-examine the invisibility of masculinity in the English-speaking world through the notion of performance. While Judith Butler’s principle that “gender is performed” has been widely discussed, it still raises one fundamental question in relation to masculinity: if masculinity is invisible and “nonperformative” (Judith Halberstam), how is it to be performed?
Concentrating on dominant forms of masculine identities such as white, straight and/or middle-class masculine identities, we shall focus on performances of masculinity through, although not exclusively, such notions as the body (including ageing, drag, evolution from childhood to manhood, sexuality), relationships and networks (including homosociality, male friendships, relationships in the workplace, marriage, family, fatherhood, domesticity) and conflict (including war, nationalism, politics).
We welcome contributions from different periods and different disciplines (history, literary studies, performance studies, anthropology, political sciences, cultural studies, men’s studies, gender studies, media studies, sociology, etc.). The language of the conference will be English exclusively.
Proposals (250 words) in English and a brief biography should be sent by April, 15, 2010 to Raphael Costambeys-Kempczynski (raphael.costambeys@univ-paris3.fr) and Hélène Quanquin (helene.quanquin@univ-paris3.fr). If your proposal is selected you will be required to send the full text of your presentation by 31st August 2010. The papers will be read in advance of each session. A facilitator will promote discussion of the papers following their presentation.
