Tantric Studies Conference: September 2010
Society for Tantric Studies
Call for Papers
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=92s 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 toTantric 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, 2010. 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.
Proposals and Inquiries:
Proposals go to Glen Hayes, while inquiries regarding the Society for Tantric Studies can be sent to Richard K. Payne:
Dr. Richard Payne, Dean
Yehan Numata Professor of Japanese Buddhist Studies
Institute of Buddhist Studies at the Graduate Theological Union
2140 Durant Avenue, Suite 30
Berkeley, California 94704
telephone: 510.809.1444
facsimile: 510.809.1443
email: rkpayne1@mac.com
