Dates: March 14 and 15, 2008
Location: Columbia University, New York City
Sponsors: Oral History in the Mid-Atlantic Region [OHMAR], Columbia University Oral History Research Office, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
As one of the great performing arts meccas of the world and a vital center for community-based and grassroots oral history research, New York City is an ideal place to explore the intersection of oral history and performance. The conference program committee hopes to bring together performing artists, oral historians, and other practitioners in a multi-disciplinary conference that will highlight the diversity of work centered around oral history and performance.
Where oral history and performance meet lies an important emerging field of endeavor. The arena is rich cross-disciplinary resonances across anthropology, sociology, history, performance studies, art history, public history, arts-based education, community development and many other areas. Performances, in a variety of genres, are a powerful means for increasing access to oral history sources and engaging broad audiences with diverse historical materials.
The program committee welcomes proposals using multiple approaches, media, and theoretical frameworks, falling at various points along the wide continuum of paper and performance. Proposals may therefore include papers, performative papers, and performance events, as well as panels of mixed events. Those dealing with the methodological and theoretical issues around transforming interviews into performances are welcome. This conference should also provide an opportunity to examine how stories are performed, in interviews and in other contexts. Please note that oral history must be a significant source for all work submitted.For a detailed definition of these terms, see the proposal genres section below.
Possible topics thus include, but are not limited to:
Single proposals of any sort may be programmed with other kinds of events if the programming committee deems them thematically related. Please note: any single or multiple combination of the above genres of performance is appropriate for a single proposal.
Panel proposals may also offer a 3 person panel event of any mix of possible presentation formats. Please be specific in your proposal as to how themes are related among your three event panel. Indicate specifically if you want a 1.5 or 2 hours panel slot.
Please indicate your need for technical support (audio/visual/digital). Be specific so we can best evaluate supporting your full work and also program it for the specific spaces we have available. Please note that there will be limitations in terms of having all technical equipment available in all rooms, and also limited performance space (one black box theater with a basic lighting and sound and a 15’ by 30’ stage). Other rooms for events may have limited floor space or audio/visual capacity. We suggest that you limit your technical requirements to what is necessary and consider bringing technical support with you for complex needs.
If submitting in hard copy, submit five copies of the proposal. For individual proposals, submit a one-page abstract, a one-page vita or resume, and a short (100 words or less) bio of the presenter. If proposing a three person panel event, submit a title, a session abstract of not more than two pages, a one-page vita or resume and bio for each participant. We suggest that performance event proposals include a sample performance excerpt up to 10 minutes maximum, if relevant, in either VHS or DVD format or posted online. Each submission must be accompanied by a cover sheet, which can be found below.
Proposals should be postmarked or emailed by October 1, 2007. We prefer that proposals be sent by email. Email the cover sheet and proposal in electronic form as one complete document in Microsoft Word format to oralhistoryandperformance@gmail.com. Should you not receive email confirmation by October 15th, please contact oralhistoryandperformance@gmail.com or Renee Braden, program committee chair, at 202-828-6697. Applicants will be notified whether their proposals have been accepted by Dec. 1, 2007.
Please contact the conference program committee at oralhistoryandperformance@gmail.com with any questions.
2008 Oral History and Performance Conference
Columbia University , New York City
March 14 and 15, 2008
Hard copy proposals should include five copies each of the cover sheet, panel proposal (if applicable), individual proposals, bios and individual resumes. We prefer emailed proposals. Be sure to read the Call For Papers and Performances to ensure you have met all requirements. Please type or print clearly.
Panel, Paper or Performance Title :________________________________________________
AV and space needs : ( )VHS player/monitor ( )DVD player/monitor ( )data projector ( )stage
Other (describe thoroughly):______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
AV requests must be indicated at this time. Please check with your panel members before submitting your proposal.
Panel organizer or paper presenter's name :_________________________________________
E-mail: _____________________________ Affiliation ________________________________
Complete Mailing Address: ________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
City : _______________ State : ________ ZIP Code________ Country:_________
Work phone: ________________ Home phone: ________________ FAX: _________________
If proposing a panel, please provide the following information as well.
Chair's Name : ________________________________________________________
First MI Last
E-mail: __________________________ Affiliation: __________________________________
Complete Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
City : ______________ State : _______ ZIP Code: _______ Country: ___________
Work phone: _______________ Home phone: ________________ FAX: _________________
Commentator (if desired) :____________________________________________
First MI Last
E-mail: ____________________________ Affiliation: _________________________________
Complete Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
City: ______________ State: _______ ZIP Code: _______ Country: __________
Work phone: _______________ Home phone: ________________ FAX: _________________
Panelist :____________________________________________________________
First MI Last
Paper Title: _________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Check one: ( )paper ( )performative paper ( )performance event
E-mail: ___________________________ Affiliation: _________________________________
Complete Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
City: ______________ State: _______ ZIP Code: _______ Country: ____________
Work phone: _______________ Home phone: ________________ FAX: _________________
Panelist : ____________________________________________________________
First MI Last
Paper Title: __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Check one: ( )paper ( )performative paper ( )performance event
E-mail: ____________________________ Affiliation: _________________________________
Complete Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
City: ______________ State: _______ ZIP Code: _______ Country: ___________
Work phone: _______________ Home phone: ________________ FAX: _________________
Panelist : ____________________________________________________________
First MI Last
Paper Title: __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Check one: ( )paper ( )performative paper ( )performance event
E-mail: ______________________________Affiliation:________________________________
Complete Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
City : ______________ State : _______ ZIP Code: _______ Country: ___________
Work phone: ______________ Home phone: ________________ FAX: _________________
Proposal packages should be emailed to: oralhistoryandperformance@gmail.com
Or mailed to: Renee Braden, Manager
National Geographic Archives and Special Collections
1145 Seventeenth Street NW
Washington DC 20036
Cover sheet and proposals must be postmarked or emailed by October 1, 2007.