Affiliated Conference Archives

ASLE-UK Conference: Writing the Environment

Docklands Conference Centre, London
6-8 September 2000

CALL FOR PAPERS

6-8 September 2000, Docklands Conference Centre, London
Co-Hosts: The University of East London (UEL) & the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (ASLE-UK)

Environmentalism is plagued by numerous competing theories and approaches, the incompatibility of which impinges upon the effectiveness of practical environmental action.  There has often been little dialogue between those, from within different disciplinary boundaries, studying and writing about the environment despite the claims to holistic thinking often made in such work.  This millennial conference is designed to address this.  Co-hosted by UEL's Department of Cultural Studies and ASLE-UK, it aims to bring together a range of perspectives on how we construct, represent and make discourses about (our) environments. A core of literary papers, considering how poets and novelists have represented the environment, will sit alongside perspectives from (among others) environmental scientists, geographers, historians, sociologists, activists, health studies, theologians, architects, artists and media
practitioners.  It is intended that sessions will be grouped thematically (not by subject area). While not prescriptive, key themes might include the following:

nature writing - representations of the city - ecofeminism - gaia theory - ecology and health - ecosystems theory - ecology & poststructuralism - environmentalism and post-colonialism - the history of ecological ideas - Victorian ecology - green business - environmentalism vs. ecology - wilderness - teaching environmentalism - the dialectics of enlightenment - animal rights -
arts vs. science - sustainability - green imperialism - romanticism - environmental policy - green consumerism - green architecture - environmentalism and social justice - the 'green' novel - ideas of nature - socialism and ecology - ecosystems theory - green theology - the 'crisis' of modernity - 'green fascism' - urban regeneration - 'green poetry'

The location for the conference is UEL's newly opened campus in London's Docklands.  An internationally recognised site of urban regeneration, the campus is built on previously contaminated land and is within view of architectural landmarks such as the Canary Wharf tower and The Millennium Dome.  The Conference Centre itself has recently opened and includes a 200 seat theatre, a restaurant and en-suite accommodation (available to delegates) which overlooks the Royal Albert Dock.

The 3-day programme includes plenary speakers from across disciplinary boundaries.  Papers will be 20-30 minutes and we invite both individual and panel proposals.  Please send these (250 words max.) to Dr John Parham, Department of Cultural Studies, University of East London, 4-6 University Way, London E16 2RD; or e-mail: J.E.Parham@uel.ac.uk.  Proposals must arrive by 26 May, 2000.  Further details, including booking forms, will be circulated in the spring.