CFP: "Aesthetics and Modernity from Schiller to Marcuse," Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of London, September 10-11, 2009.

From Schiller to Marcuse the aesthetic dimension has been conceived among other things as a kind of moral forum, a critical mirror for society, an outlet for otherwise impermissible drives, and as a dimension in which a more affirmative mode of existence is possible. It has been seen as characteristic of modernity’s orientation around the individual and as a means of counteracting the rationalisations of modern life. This two day-conference will investigate the many and conflicting relationships between aesthetics and modernity. In particular, the 250th anniversary of Schiller’s birth in 1759 seems a timely point to reflect on the German tradition of socio-cultural and aesthetic theory and artistic practice from the late Enlightenment to the Frankfurt School and beyond, in which Schiller played such a seminal role. Papers are therefore invited on any and all aspects of the relationship between aesthetics and modernity from the 1790s to the 1970s, and in particular, contributions that develop an interdisciplinary perspective – embracing German studies, philosophy, social and cultural theory, aesthetics, literature, music, art. Papers should last no more than 30 minutes; the conference languages will be English and German. Please send proposals (including an abstract of 200 words max.) by 31 August 2008 to: Dr Jerome Carroll and Dr Maike Orgel. We shall also be publishing an edited collection of papers from the symposium. Visit the conference webpage here: http://igrs.sas.ac.uk/events/conference/conf_SchillertoMarcuseCFP.htm.