CFP - Sociocultural Dimensions of Childhood

International Conference
Sociocultural Dimensions of Childhood
October 26-28, 2018, Sofia, Bulgaria
Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum
https://childhoodconference2018.wordpress.com/

The researches in the field of childhood recently attracted the attention of a wide range of specialists in the sphere of history, ethnology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, literature, legal studies, etc., resulting in the creation of an innovative interdisciplinary research cooperation. With the advancement of scholarly achievements, topics like age and life cycle, gender and family, social development and culture, human rights and children at risk, policies and social practices, become a central focus of interest. Crossing the methodological limits, scientists explore the historical, political, social and cultural development of children in the structures and contexts characteristic of different historical periods and geographical areas.

Guided by the belief that the study on childhood is one of the most important problems of the present day, the organizers aim to initiate a scientific dialogue within the framework of an international conference on the subject and to outline new perspectives for the analysis of historical and contemporary pictures of childhood at local, national, global, and intercultural level. The expectation is that such forum will accommodate research cases which will allow scholars to highlight this field and create conditions for its conceptualization in the new political, social and scientific contexts of our time. While discussions remain open to other topics, the conference intends to give rise to debates in several main thematic fields:

• Childhood and Adolescence in European History, Politics and Culture;
• Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Childhood. Theoretical and Methodological Aspects;
• In the World of Children;
• Children Within and Outside the Family: Parents, Relatives, Coevals, Friends;
• Children and Migration. Socialization and Acculturation of Immigrant, Emigrant and Refugee Children;
• Experiences and Memory of Childhood. War, Violence, Trauma;
• Childhood and Folklore;
• Children’s and Teenage Subculture: Past and Present;
• Representation of Children and Childhood in European Cinema, Art, Music, Photography, and Literature;
• Good Practices and Educational Policies in Raising and Upbringing of Children;
• Disadvantaged Children and Children at Risk;
• Children and the Museum.

In a special panel dedicated to the role and functions of the museum for the education and upbringing of children, for the first time an ‘on-line’ dialogue with representatives of the museums in the country will be carried out; by means of interactive presentations the local and regional museums will present their ideas and accomplishments in the field of museum work.

The broad international and interdisciplinary academic dialogue within the conference will provide an opportunity for presentation of theses, exchange of thoughts and discussion on current issues of the European societies. This dialogue among established and highly qualified and motivated young and senior researchers will contribute to enhance knowledge transfer and scientific ideas. The hosting of the conference by the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum in Sofia – one of the leading Bulgarian research institutions, will support international cooperation in the field of humanities and social sciences. We hope to inspire and produce an interdisciplinary scientific discussion and a broad public debate on issues related to the rearing, upbringing and growing-up of the contemporary younger generation.

We encourage submissions by both established scholars and young scientists/advanced postgraduate students.

Please submit a proposal in English that contains your full name, e-mail address, institutional and disciplinary affiliation, the title of your paper and an abstract of not more than 300 words. The language of the conference is English.

Please send your proposals to the Secretary of the Organizing Committee Assist. Prof. Violeta Periklieva, PhD (childhoodconference2018@gmail.com).

The deadline for the submission of proposals is March 31, 2018.

Participants will be informed about the acceptance/rejection of their proposals by April 15, 2018.

Further information on the programme, the terms of the conference, the paper requirements as well as the accommodation in Sofia will be sent by the end of June 2018.

The organizers intend to publish a collection of selected papers after the conference.

Note: There is no participation fee. Due to financial restrictions, we are strongly encouraging the future participants to search for potential financial support from their sending institutions as well as to take advantage of the programmes for inter-academic exchange. Participants are expected to cover their travel and accommodation expenses.