Call for Papers


At the academic heart of the Christian Scholars’ Conference are its “Peer Reviewed Sessions.” The following calls for papers, arranged by discipline, are posted by peer reviewed leaders. Submitted abstracts or papers will be read anonymously and evaluated by scholars selected by the Peer Reviewed leader. This site will be revised weekly through December, 2009.

 


FINE ARTS AND LITERATURE


TRUTH AND BEAUTY IN JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY'S DOUBT

Fifteen-minute papers exploring faith and uncertainty in Shanley’s prize-winning play or his 2009 film adaptation of Doubt are invited for a peer-reviewed session in the Christian Scholars’ Conference at Lipscomb University June 3-5, 2010. Papers may address any aspect of faith, truth, or beauty in the play. How does one construct (or deconstruct) truths about faith or observations, guilt or innocence, authority or evidence? What happens to truth and faith when perceptions of reality clash? Where can we find beauty in a world full of guilt and preconceptions? When does righteousness corrupt? Please send a 500 word abstract exploring these themes or related questions to Lisa Siefker Bailey at lsiefker@iupuc.edu no later than December 21, 2009. Potential participants will be notified by January 18, 2010 of the status of their submission.




FEAR NO EVIL: FINDING BEAUTY IN THEATRE'S DIFFICULT DIALOGUES

The Christian Scholars' Conference at Lipscomb University will be held June 3-5, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.  The title of this year's conference is "Beauty in the Academy: Faith, Scholarship, and the Arts."  John Patrick Shanley, winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, will be the keynote speaker, and the conference will feature a performance of Doubt with an ensemble of Equity actors.

With Shanley's Doubt playing such a major role at the conference, we invite papers that consider the ways in which theatre texts and performances can be employed as tools to facilitate discussion and to illuminate moral questions of our time.  As theatre practitioners and scholars, how do we employ performance pedagogies in the classroom, the theatre, the church, and the community to bring opposing points of view into dialogue?  Papers could address issues such as capital punishment, abortion, addictions, attitudes toward war, and race relations.

Please send a 250 word abstract in Word format to Dr. Bradley Griffin at Bradley.griffin@pepperdine.edu by December 31, 2009.

 


SCREENING SHANLEY: HIS CINEMATIC WORK

John Patrick Shanley has drawn from the particulars of his Catholic roots to forge artistic questions that resonate with the broadest audiences possible. From his Academy Award winning screenplay for Moonstruck to his Pulitzer Prize winning drama, Doubt, Shanley both provokes and entertains.  The Christian Scholars Conference in Nashville, Tennessee will interact with Shanley’s work through plenary address, performance, and the Playwright’s talkback.

We seek scholarly papers that explore Shanley’s plays and films with special emphasis upon his critical skills and spiritual impulses. We invite scholars of faith to submit papers for peer-review. Papers may draw upon numerous disciplines incorporating aesthetics, theology, communication theories but our particular interest is film studies.   What themes/genres/styles define Shanley’s cinematic work? For consideration, please submit a 500 word abstract to Craig Detweiler at Craig.Detweiler@pepperdine.edu no later than December 21, 2009. Peer reviewed decisions will be announced by January 18, 2010. Final papers will be due on May 3rd for presentation at the 30th Annual Christian Scholars Conference, Lipscomb University, June 3-5, 2010. Questions: call Craig Detweiler at Pepperdine University, 310/506-6314.

  


SERVICE LEARNING IN THE VISUAL ARTS: SERVICE AS CREATIVE AND INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENT, NOT CHARITY

How do we incorporate service-learning into our curricula as academics in art, design, art history, and art education?  What types of courses and assignments can we offer?  How can we maintain the academic tenets of our work but also engage our students and partner organizations in providing meaningful service and transformative impact?  How do we avoid the traps of charity, free community art, and simple service work? 

For this session, papers are sought that discuss related teaching experiences/approaches in the classroom, including but not limited to:  pedagogy; curriculum design; community partners; and/or general (or specific) theories of service-learning that may affect our disciplines.  The session’s goal is to create a productive dialogue between audience and presenters and to generate and/or share options for the visual arts.   

To submit, please email peer review proposals (350 words) in a Word attachment to Prof. Laura Lake Smith via deidra.piatt@lipscomb.edu.  No self-identifying elements (e.g., participant’s name, name of institution) should be included in the 350-word abstract. Proposals submitted with such information will be declined for peer review.  Deadline: December 21, 2009

  


AESTHETICS AND FAITH IN THE ANGLO-AMERICAN LITERARY TRADION

Fifteen-minute papers on "Aesthetics and Faith in the Anglo-American Literary Tradition" that explore the convergence or divergence of religion and art, the difficulties of reconciling aesthetic and spiritual demands, or the nature of a Christian aesthetics.  Consideration will be given to both readings of individual works or authors and theoretical papers centered in the tradition.  This panel will supplement a generative panel that features an historical overview and discussions of Jane Austen and John Updike.  Please send a 350-word abstract to John Williams at jewilliams@harding.edu by February 1, 2010.  Submitters will be notified of results by February 28, 2010. 

 

 



BIBLICAL AND RELATED TOPICS


NARRATIVE AND SYNCHRONIC READINGS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

This session will explore ways of reading the “final” or canonical form of Old Testament texts.  Scholars, including graduate students, are invited to submit papers in which they utilize narrative/synchronic methods to interpret an Old Testament text or texts.  Please submit a proposal and overview of approximately 500 words to Phillip Camp of Lipscomb University at phillip.camp@lipscomb.edu.  The deadline for submission is January 15, 2010.  Those outside the theological and biblical studies fields are encouraged to submit proposals.


 



COMPETITIVE PAPER PANEL IN HONOR OF MICHAEL W. CASEY


In honor of longtime Pepperdine University professor and rhetorical scholar Michael W. Casey, the 2010 Christian Scholars Conference invites submission of papers that address issues in Rhetorical Criticism and Theory or Public Address and are relevant to the CSC theme “Beauty in the Academy:  Faith, Scholarship and the Arts.”  

Authors should share the mission of the Christian Scholars Conference which is to create and nurture an intellectual and Christian community that joins individuals and institutions to stimulate networks of scholarly dialogue and collaboration. 

The panel seeks papers that:  

  • Contribute to the theory and/or practice of Rhetoric and Public Address or Communication in relation to Pacifism or the Stone Campbell Movement.
  • Demonstrate methodological rigor and innovation.
  • Show relevance to the conference theme: “Beauty in the Academy: Faith, Scholarship and the Arts.”
  • Contribute to the mission of the Christian Scholars Conference.

Papers should include title and an abstract under 100 words.  No information identifying the author(s) should be included in the paper. 

Papers should be a maximum of 25 pages, not including references and conform to the Chicago Manual of Style. Submissions will be double-blind peer reviewed and the top three papers will be included in a 90 minute session for presentation and critique. 

Submission deadline is January 21, 2010.  Panelists will be notified by February 8. 

Please send electronic copy of your paper to Dr. John Jones at john.jones@pepperdine.edu.