CFP: “The Circle of Life” – Birth, Dying, and the Liminality of Life since the Nineteenth Century

The organizers of a conference in Poland invite proposals for presentations that analyze and investigate concepts of liminality and rites of passage in a historical perspective, with a particular focus on social changes in modern industrialized societies. Submissions are due by April 15, 2022.

They are interested, among others, in the following questions:

• How do modern, especially pluralist, societies deal with the above mentioned liminal stages at the beginning and end of human life;
• Which factors and processes have influence on changes in understanding and interpreting these stages;
• How do modern societies and their diverse subgroups react to social change, shifts in values, and scientific innovation with regard to the liminal stages of conception, birth(-giving), and dying;
• Which notions, ideas, and (legal) traditions influence the legislative regulation of these stages?

The workshop will be held at the German Historical Institute in Warsaw on 1 and 2 September 2022 with financial support of the German Research Foundation. In case of travel restrictions due to the pandemic, the workshop will be held in a hybrid or online format. The workshop language will be English. Travel expenses of invited speakers will be reimbursed, accommodation will be provided by the German Historical Institute Warsaw.

Proposals for 20-minutes presentations should include a short abstract (approx. 300 words), a title, a short bio (half a page), institutional affiliation, email address, and should be sent to the workshop organizers Michael Zok and Florian Greiner.