CALL FOR PAPERS | CONFERENCE 2009 | TICKLE YOUR CATASTROPHE! 
Deadline 1 December 2008

On 6 to 7 March 2009, the NGE (Dutch Aesthetics Society), Ghent University, KASK/Hogent  (Academy of Fine Arts, College University Ghent) and Vooruit are organising the Tickle Your Catastrophe! Conference at the Vooruit Arts Centre in Ghent (B) during the arts festival The Game is Up! How to Save the World in Ten Days (from 4 to 14 March 2009).

Whereas the twentieth century was dominated by political extremism and (coping with) trauma, it is the fear of the inevitable and complete catastrophe that reigns at the beginning of a new century. Although worst-case scenarios have always been part of our cultural identity, the catastrophe has taken on a different form at the beginning of a new millennium.

Tickle Your Catastophe! doesn't want to wallow in doom and pessimism, but wants to question our idea of a catastrophe and the role it plays in philosophy, art and science today. As the original meaning of the conference title suggest, we want to give this concept 'a kick up the bum' in order to discover how the catastrophe was and is represented in art and philosophy.

The conference committee welcomes proposals for papers, presentations, roundtable debates and sessions exploring these themes or any other topic relevant to the theme of the conference.
Please send a summary of your project (400-word limit) and a short biography before 1 December 2008 to catastrophe@ugent.be.

More information: www.catastrophe.ugent.be