History in the limelight - PDF document

History in the limelight : dramatising the past, c.1850 to the present 8 - 10 September 2016, UCL Institute of Education, London This conference will investigate the ways in which history has been performed in the modern world . It will bring together partic ipants from different countries and disciplines to consider how communities, institutions and groups have presented history in dramatic forms over time. Performances of the past include historical pageants, fancy - dress carnivals, battle re - enactments, peri od dramas (in cinemas and on television and radio) , ‘living history’, historical theme parks, community plays, music played on period instruments, reinvented and recovered traditions and rituals , and many other activities. There is growing body of scholarship on histor ical performance , often involving researchers from different disciplines. This conference is aimed at scholars and practitioners across the dis c iplinary spectrum, including history, theatre and film studies, sociology and anthropology, the visual and perfo rming arts, music and literature, folklore, education and cultural studies broadly defined. We also particularly welcome contributions from the heritage and information sectors. The aim of the conference is to range across different national and transnatio nal contexts in its exploration of historical pageants and other forms of historical performance . Q uestions the confe rence seeks to address include the following:  H ow has history been presented in dramatic form to different audiences? W hat meanings are a ssociated with participation in, and observation of, historical re - enactments and dramatic peformances?  H ow has the nature and cultural significance of historical performances changed over time?  H ow important is ‘authenticity’ in historical performance?  W hat does the dramatic presentation of history tell us about personal, local and national identities , and about public interest in the past ?  W hat is the relationship between historical performance and other forms of cultural engagement with the past?  What a re the ethical implications of representing history in dramatic form?  W hat insights can be gained from comparative perspectives on historical performance?  W hat contributions did (and can ) the performing arts make in the heritage sector , popular history, an d history education ? The conference is organised by the team behind ‘The Redress of the Past: Historical Pageants in Britain 1905 - 2016’, which is funded by the UK Arts & Humanities Research Council. The project involves researchers from the UCL Institute of Education, King’s College London and the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Further details of the project can be found here: http://www.historicalpageants.ac.uk . The conference is part - funded by the project, and will feature some of the theatrical, musical and cinematic entertainment that has formed a part of its public engagement activity. Keynote lectures will consider historical pageants in Britain and beyond. To submit a paper proposal, please s end the following information by email to pageants@ioe.ac.uk by 31 January 2016 : Your name (and any co - authors) Institutional affiliation (if any) Email address Paper title Abstract (maximum 250 words) Notification of acceptances will be sent by 29 February 2016 . A small cha rge will be made for attendance at the conference , to cover catering costs only .