'Bodily Functions: The Corpus and Corpora in Ancient Literature'

The AMPAL is a two day residential conference which brings together post-graduates from across the international classical community. The event offers a unique opportunity for graduates to present their work, to meet other researchers and academics from across the discipline and to engage in lively and stimulating discussion on a significant critical theme. In particular, the AMPAL offers an encouraging environment for post-graduates to present their first paper and for speakers and chairs to receive peer review. Previous conferences have also included the opportunity for publication.

Our keynote speaker for the event will be Prof. Matthew Leigh of St Anne’s College, Oxford.

Proposals are invited for papers of 20 minutes on the theme of the corpus and corpora in ancient literature. Papers should discuss the body and its functions in the Greek and Latin languages, literature (including both poetry and prose, historiography, philosophy, oratory, etc.), and in the modern reception of classical texts.

Suggestions are set out below; however, other interpretations of the theme are very welcome:

• medical literature
• food, hunger and eating
• the dichotomy between the body and the mind
• textual representations of the human form
• the role of bodily movements in the performance of drama and oratory
• scatology
• transformation and metamorphosis
• physical appearance as characterisation
• the grotesque
• beauty and aesthetic ideals
• absence and presence
• the anthropomorphisation of places and landscapes
• bodily language and imagery

Abstracts of no more than 300 words are to be submitted, by 1st May 2012, via email to: ampal.oxford.2012@gmail.com

When submitting abstracts, please include your name, academic institution and level of study. Proposals for panels of up to three co-ordinated papers are very welcome.

Conference organisers:
Eleanor Reeve, Simone Finkmann, Helen Todd, Jane Burkowski & Lucy Van Essen-Fishman

Contact: ampal.oxford.2012@gmail.com

Venue: Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies, 66, St. Giles, Oxford. OX1 3LU

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Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies, 66, St. Giles', Oxford OX1 3LU
Last updated: January 30, 2012