CFP: "Art, Praxis, and Social Transformation: Radical Dreams and Visions," San Francisco State University, November 6-9, 2008.

8th Biennial Conference, Radical Philosophy Association. Art has long served as a form of critical reflection and a source of alternatives to what Herbert Marcuse and others have called 'the given.' At the same time, it has served to reinforce the status quo, whether through comics of 'happy' African slaves, the design of certain buildings and monuments, or sleek commercial and political advertisements. In the situation we confront today, what role might art play in enabling us to think, imagine, and go beyond "the given"? Does art disclose truth or distract us from it? Is it more a tool for revolution or a means of co-optation? Do popular art and popular culture entrench dominant social relations, or help us question and overthrow them? Today, as we struggle to understand and contend with various forces of social reaction, exclusion, and oppression, it seems timely to ask what role art might play in renewing critical consciousness and social transformation. Proposal Submission Instructions: We invite submissions of proposals for papers, panels, workshops, poster sessions, performances, and other types of conference contributions on all topics related to radical philosophy and praxis from philosophers and theorists who work inside and outside the academy. We encourage contributions from graduate students and from those who are often excluded from or marginalized in traditional academic disciplines and professional organizations, including people of color, gays and lesbians, persons with disabilities, and poor and working-class persons. We also encourage submissions that challenge standard conference presentation format, and that emphasize collective inquiry and interaction between participants and audience. Individual papers should be limited to 3000 words, for a 20-25 minute presentation. Some preference will be given to proposals which reflect the conference theme. In your proposal submission, include:

1. Name, contact information, and affiliation of presenter(s);
2. Title of presentation paper(s), panel, workshop, poster session, performance, etc.;
3. Abstract of 250-500 words for each individual presentation paper; and/or,
4. Description of panel, workshop, etc., including siting, audio-visual, and other requirements.
5. Let us know if you are willing to serve as chair for a panel or workshop that needs one.

Send your proposal by March 8, 2008 to peterama@drexel.edu; or Peter Amato, RPA ‘08, English & Philosophy Dept., Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104. Information about accommodations at: http://www.radicalphilosophy.org/. A selection of papers from the conference will be published in Radical Philosophy Today, Vol. 6.

(Information from http://www.continental-philosophy.org/).