CALL. 15.02.2019: [SESSION 2] Ambiguity in the Ancient Near East: Gender and Identity (ASOR 2019) -
FECHA LÍMITE/DEADLINE/SCADENZA: 15/02/2019
FECHA CONGRESO/CONGRESS DATE/DATA CONGRESSO: 20-21-22-23/11/2019
LUGAR/LOCATION/LUOGO: Westin San Diego Hotel (San Diego, CA, USA)
ORGANIZADOR/ORGANIZER/ORGANIZZATORE: Lauren K. McCormick; Elizabeth Knott
INFO: call - web - sarahcostello6@gmail.com - d.stein@bbk.ac.uk
CALL:
Ambiguity in the Ancient Near East explores ambiguity as a fruitful strategy of signification across ancient Near Eastern cultures. This year, we invite presenters whose work investigates constructions of gender. Gender was one productive form of identity construction in the ancient Near East, enabling the definition of individuals and peoples in relationship to larger social groups. This session explores gender as a site of identity formation and/or transgression that tells us about ancient Near Eastern mentalities more generally. Was gender fixed in binary terms? Under what circumstances were traditional categories of gender blurred, and for what purposes, or to what effects? We welcome papers that explore ANE gender as it was defined by culturally-prescribed actions, or gender as it relates to ancient professions, political or other forms of leadership, law, sexuality, and/or ritual. Papers could also explore the difference between ancient and modern systems of classification, the role of ambiguity and liminality in interpersonal relations, and/or constraints beyond gender that might lead to ambiguous identity in the ANE. Papers on social and cultural constructions and expressions of identity are also welcome. Presenters are invited to make use of archaeological, art historical and/or textual data.
Abstracts should be submitted via ASOR’s portal by Feb. 15th, 2018. Please see ASOR's website for submission instructions (http://www.asor.org/am/2019-call-for-papers/). Questions may be directed to Lauren K. McCormick (lamccorm@syr.edu) and/or Elizabeth Knott (eak324@nyu.edu)