The Association of Serbian Folklorists, Institute for Literature and Art in Belgrade, Scientific, Educational and Cultural Center “Vuk Karadžić” in Tršić, Cultural Center “Vuk Karadžić” in Loznica and University Library “Svetozar Marković” in Belgrade have the honor of inviting you to take part in the International Scientific Conference Contemporary Serbian Folkloristics 15, Folkloristics–Ideology–Politics, which will take place in Tršić, October 4–6, 2024.
SSF15_CfP_Trsic2024.doc
SSF15_Application_form_Trsic2024.doc
The conference is envisaged as an opportunity for vocalizing a contemporary response to the challenges of rethinking epistemological presumptions of folkloristics due to growing tensions between the left-wing and right-wing orientations in current politics, i.e., ideological conceptions within the framework of conceiving the research field of folk literature, ethnology, ethnomusicology, ethnolinguistics, anthropology, heritology. The thematic scope of this conference has been defined based on the stand that, in principle, from the aspect of ethics/politics of the scientific disciplines dealing with “knowledge about people”, it is necessary, from time to time, to pose the question clearly about the preferable and unacceptable forms of engaged activity within the framework of social sciences and humanities, intellectual and social responsibility of researchers, and the models of politics and ideology interference in scientific discourse. What is expected is a wide and dynamic discussion, i.e., an open and well-argued dialogue in which a variety of perspectives may be confronted. The ideological and the political are undoubtedly present, to a greater or lesser degree, explicitly or implicitly (sometimes even in the form of mimicry), not just on the level of material selection and hypotheses but also on the level of epistemological and methodological postulates, affirmed either by collective identity aspects or neoliberal concepts and values. By accepting and understanding the dynamics dictated by the dominant cultural, historical, and theoretical paradigms, we should not forget that folkloristics is principally defined by its focus on collective identities, i.e., social and cultural contexts that design, define, and promote them. Over time, folkloristics also stepped away from the initial ideas and requests posed to scholars by the “science about people” in a number of ways. In different epochs it positioned itself in various ways with respect to the power centers which created cultural politics and geopolitical strategies reckoning on collective identities (ethnos, nation, local community, “a small group”). Ideological and political guidelines have affected the research matter and scientific and research approaches in various ways and with different intensities. The intention of the organizers of this conference is to generate new ideas and empower the space for new generalizations and theoretical reflections by exchanging and complementing the experience of the researchers gathered by the Association of Serbian Folklorists and also by mixing it with the experience of the researchers from abroad. We are inviting you to contribute to this dialogue and propose topics with the focus on current scientific politics, theoretical and methodological paradigms, processes and results of various “tradition usages,” at the present moment and in historical perspective, and the consequences of political and market instrumentalization, i.e., the advocation of value stands in folklore
research and research results presentation. In the light of the new insights, what is expected is the re-examination of the causes and consequences of the U-turn which directed folkloristics, as a “national science”, towards a broad and unclearly defined field of culture and anthropology of folklore a few decades ago, and yet another opportunity is given to comprehend various dimensions of, from an administrative angle, conspicuously favored conception of intangible cultural heritage preservation and safeguarding.
Outside thus marked thematic framework, the conference will provide space for the presentation of contemporary folkloristic research and establishment of a wider interdisciplinary, interinstitutional and international collaboration.
Thematic blocks:
1. Folklore and folkloristics in modern scientific and political discourse. Research topics and practices, concepts, curriculums, projects. Conceptual and meta-disciplinary conflicts within folkloristics. Influence of digital technologies on research topics, approaches, and methodologies. Analysis of political priorities and agenda which condition the status of folkloristic research (perception, evaluation, financing). Critical and engaged approaches. Investing discipline authority into ideological projects. “Useability” of scientific findings. Dilemmas with regard to perspectives, status, and identity of the scholarship.
2. Challenges of multiculturalism and inclusion, the questions of representation, minority rights, promotion of cultural diversity. Interdisciplinary challenges. Criticism and reinterpretation of classic philological narratives from the aspect of political correctness. Agenda and consequences analysis in the application of political correctness to classical folklore research, including the question of ethics, authenticity, and censorship. Implications of such approaches to the understanding of cultural heritage and collective identities.
3. Investigation of political control and manipulation of folklore tradition processes, including censorship, political ideologization and usage of folklore for propaganda means. Inventing tradition and the mechanisms of consolidation of social groups (political, warrior, sports fan, refugee, guest worker, migrant folklore). Ethnocultural phenomena of modern popular culture – market manipulation, marketing strategies, and the commercialization of traditional cultural patterns. Intangible cultural heritage between political and market instrumentalization and intellectual responsibility. Analysis of political approaches and strategies in the concepts of safeguarding and preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
4. Contemporary folkloristics – ongoing research presentation.
The working languages of the conference are all Slavic languages and English.
The title of the paper, with a short abstract (up to 200 words) and a biography (up to 100 words) should be sent no later than May 1, 2023 to the address Адрес электронной почты защищен от спам-ботов. Для просмотра адреса в вашем браузере должен быть включен Javascript.. The application form is attached to this Call for Proposals. The confirmation of participation will be sent by June 1, 2024 and the Program of the International Scientific Conference CSF15 will be announced until September 15, 2024.
The conference pack includes transportation from Belgrade to Tršić (a round trip), accommodation and meals.
The registration fee is 6,000 RSD (€50). For the Association od Serbian Folklorists members who have paid the membership fee for the current year, the registration fee is 4,000 RSD (€35).