CALL. 20.02.2020: [PANEL 8] Representations of Cultural Trauma in the Hebrew Bible (EABS) - Wupperta
FECHA LÍMITE/DEADLINE/SCADENZA: 20/02/2020
FECHA CONGRESO/CONGRESS DATE/DATA CONGRESSO: 03-04-05-06/08/2020
LUGAR/LOCATION/LUOGO: University of Wuppertal (Wuppertal, Germany)
ORGANIZADOR/ORGANIZER/ORGANIZZATORE: Dominik Markl (Pontifical Biblical Institute); Danilo Verde (KU Leuven)
INFO: web
CALL:
The Hebrew Bible frequently refers to collective experiences of disasters and crises. We investigate the nterrelationship between biblical representations of collective suffering and the creation of collective identity in ancient Israel and emerging Judaism in light of the category of cultural trauma. According to Alexander, “Cultural trauma occurs when members of a collectivity feel they have been subjected to a horrendous event that leaves indelible marks upon their group consciousness, marking their memories forever and changing their future identity in fundamental and irrevocable ways” (2004: 1). From this perspective, several factors contribute to shaping the cultural trauma of social groups and societies, among which the creation and transmission of symbolic representations of the events at stake are crucial. We explore biblical texts such as collective laments, curses, narratives, etc. not only as texts representing and voicing the community’s experience of catastrophic events, but also as tools to shape cultural trauma in ancient Israel and emerging Judaism. Additionally, we explore relevant texts as “equipment for living” (Burke 1998) for the addressed community, namely as the literary and religious heritage through which the carrier groups of biblical texts attempted to build cultural resilience by coping with and giving meaning to collective suffering. We welcome paper proposals that intend to explore biblical representations of cultural trauma in laments and other poetic texts. We particularly welcome papers that critically use Alexander’s theory of “cultural trauma” and other theories from the fields of sociology and cultural studies. Abstracts should contain the following elements: scope, main thesis, case study, methodology, and explanation of the importance of the work. To submit your abstract: <https://www.eabs.net/EABS/Conferences/Wuppertal_2020/EABS/Conferences/Wuppertal_2020/Annual_Conference_2020.aspx?hkey=f50f865b-33fc-4851-a732-d7e25eebcff3>.