'Marginal Perceptions: Queer Voices In and Beyond Conventional Disciplines' takes place on 7 March
First conference in the South-West to focus on Queer Studies research
The conference will be the first of its type in the South-West, marking a historic milestone in Cornwall’s queer history. It will feature talks from acclaimed academics Professor Sally Munt (University of Sussex), Dr. Gavin Brown (University of Leicester), and Dr. Ruth Heholt (Falmouth University). Each talk will demonstrate the latest in Queer Studies research, whilst also showcasing the interdisciplinary focus of the event.
Billy Burton, a Geography second year student, says "We are thrilled to bring such a fantastic line-up of guest speakers to the Penryn Campus. We've been able to attract some of the finest speakers in their fields, encompassing English Literature, Cultural Studies and Geography, a brilliantly multidisciplinary mix that reflects the ethos of the conference perfectly."
"The event will be the first of its kind in the South-West. This is a great moment for the Penryn Campus to make its mark nationally in an innovative field of study, and it also represents a landmark in Cornish LGBT history."
"That Cornwall is hosting the second largest Queer Studies Conference in the world this year is a fantastic accolade that reflects the growing strength of the humanities department."
The event is free to attend for all, and will feature a number of film screenings, as well as an information fair. The Penryn National Union of Students LGBT officer will lead a workshop based on activism and the upcoming general election, and a unique, interactive, ‘constellation art’ project, led by the Feminist Society, will pay homage to the campus partnership with Falmouth University.
Dr Jason Hall, Head of Humanities Penryn added: "This exciting event—a considerable student initiative—will showcase new thinking in the field of ‘queer studies’ and bring some respected thinkers to the Penryn Campus."
The conference will feature four academic panels with a variety of foci. The first, ‘Emerging from England’s Closet’, will feature papers that chart a journey from the legal recognition of homosexuality in the late 19th century to how those identities manifest after the turn of the century. The second, ‘Queer Adolescences’, will illustrate how adolescent expressions of sexuality and gender engage with the broader issues of queer theory. The third, ‘Contemporary Narratives’, will address more recent texts, exploring the subversive engagement of queer identities, undermining the hegemonic traditional structures of gender and sexuality. The final panel, ‘Remembering Queer Politicised Voices’, will undertake studies of politically and historically embattled identities.
Catherine Fairfield, a 3rd Year English Literature student, said: "The conference has been entirely student-led, and this makes it even more special; we wanted to incorporate students of all stages in their academic development in the event, and with academics, postgraduates and undergraduates from as far away as France due to present papers, the event will be a fantastic experience for all students involved. We hope it will inspire them on to great things in the future!"
The event has been sponsored by both the Falmouth and Exeter Students Union (FXU) Students-Led Events and Projects fund, and the Exeter Humanities Fund.
Email queerstudiesconference@gmail.com if you require further information about this event.
Date: 3 March 2015
