Whilst the ultimate success of CAS will be measured in terms of material social change in the lived circumstances of nonhuman animals a pathway to this involves cultural and political contestation. An overarching aim of critical animal studies has been to contest the anthropocentrism of academic knowledge. This has taken place across traditional academic disciplines, their sub-disciplines, and broader fields of knowledge under the rubric of the ‘animal turn’ over the last few decades. Yet CAS has always been extra-academic. Consequently, the politicization of human-animal relations has also taken place in the broader culture, including in social movements, NGOs and in the media.In this virtual conference we aim to assess and appraise progress in such spheres contesting hegemonic and normalized anthropocentrism.
We seek papers falling under two broad categories – i) those which either constitute (or examine) examples of this disciplinary contestation, and ii) reflect and review the progress of critical animal studies. Such reflection inevitably entails detailed critical scrutiny of the CAS field and its overlaps with animal studies more generally, as well as the political and cultural constraints on the animalization of academia and culture. It also entails being attentive to where critical perspectives on human / nonhuman animal relations are especially lacking and yet most needed right now, and how CAS and all those working to end animal oppression can progress the movement in a more coherent, consistent, and effective manner.We welcome papers from all disciplines and sub-fields, and from those working independently or as part of advocacy/activist movements.
Areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
Established disciplines – e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Criminology, Philosophy, Literature, Art, Media, Politics, Film, TV, Geography, History, Anthropology and their sub-disciplines.
Established fields – e.g. Cultural Studies, Gender & Women’s Studies, Critical Race Studies, Disability Studies, Childhood Studies, Organisational Studies, Ecofeminism, Ecosocialism.
The media – facilitator or gatekeeper?
Life in the ‘life’ sciences – e.g. Ecology, Animal Welfare science, Ethology, Veterinary science
Animals and/in education (studies)
Substantive areas – e.g. Climate Crisis, Sixth Mass Extinction, Pandemics
Legal rights, laws and regulations
Progress in the animalisation of academia
Critical animal perspectives in social movements
Pathways for animal inclusion – Intersectionality, One Health
Mainstreaming critical perspectives – lessons from other social movements
You can also submit an abstract to a symposium internal to the conference themedaround Heterotopia, radical imagination, and shattering orders:manifesting a future of liberated animals hosted by Dr. Paula Arcari. Please see https://tinyurl.com/y356utrk for more information
Idea for another topic or medium that fits with our theme? We welcome presentations in all formats. Let us know!
Please submit a 250-word abstract and short bio to cfhas@edgehill.ac.uk by 28th February 2021. Include ‘EACAS 2021’ in the subject line.
Abstracts will be assessed by: Claire Parkinson (CfHAS, UK), Paula Arcari (CfHAS, UK), Brett Mills (CfHAS, UK), Richard Twine (CfHAS, UK), Kathryn Gillespie (USA), Nuria Almiron (Spain), Helena Pedersen (Sweden) and Dinesh Wadiwel (Australia).
