[AMS-announce] CFP: Opera Indigene: Critical Perspectives on Re/presenting First Nations and Indigenous Cultures, Kings College London, England, Sept. 2008

[Announcements for the AMS]

Opera Indigene: Critical Perspectives on Re/presenting First Nations and Indigenous Cultures
September 27, 2008, Kings College London, England

Deadline for Abstract Submissions: June 1, 2008

The representation of non-western cultures in opera has long been a focus of critical inquiry. Within this field, the diverse relationships between opera and First Nations and indigenous cultures has received far less attention. ‘Opera Indigene’ will take this subject as its focus, and examine it in three different aspects:

1. Historical and contemporary representations of colonised peoples at a distance from Europe;
2. Historical and contemporary representations of colonised peoples from within post-colonial nations with inherited history of colonisation; and
3. Artistic collaborations initiated by or including First Nations’ and indigenous cultures.

This conference will examine how representations of indigeneity are negotiated in opera, and how these representations of First Nations’ cultures relate to historical and contemporary constructions of cultural and national identity. The separation of the word ‘re/presenting’ in our title seeks to address this distinction between how representations of indigenous identity have been constructed in opera by non-indigenous artists, and how indigenous artists have utilised opera as an interface to present their cultural traditions in more recent collaborations. In its focus on First Nations cultures, this conference will specifically consider operas and music theatre work about settler-invader colonies including Australia, Canada, The United States, Mexico, South Africa and South America.

For furhter details, including Thematic Perspectices and Operas for Case Studies, please see:
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/cromt/1-3-8.html

Please submit abstracts of 300 words maximum to Dr. Pamela Karantonis at Pamela.Karantonis_at_uwe.ac.uk and Dylan Robinson at D.W.Robinson_at_sussex.ac.uk by June 1, 2008.