Call for Papers

Panel: "Public Space"
Conference: Urban Identity and the Atlantic Public Sphere
Location: Research Center for Urban Cultural History
University of Massachusetts Boston
Date: 1 - 2 October 2010

Deadline for submission of abstract: 15 May 2010

Organized around the theme "Urban Identity and the Atlantic Public Sphere,"
this conference aims to provide an opportunity for architectural,
literary, urban and social historians to consider the ways that urban
identities were forged through the Atlantic exchanges and networks
that constituted succeeding public spheres from 1500 through the long
nineteenth century. A major objective of the conference is to bring
together scholars who have been engaged in studying one aspect or
another of Atlantic urban culture from the perspective of their own
discipline and to encourage an interdisciplinary discussion about the
newly emergent notion of the "Atlantic city." More specifically, the
themes of the sessions were chosen to emphasize the construction of an
Atlantic public sphere through typically urban means of communication
and exchange: theatre and public performance; public space; print
culture; and the discourse of reform. The sessions will consist of
three speakers, each delivering a 20-minute paper, and a respondent.

This call seeks papers for the session on public space. Topics may
engage any aspect of public space in the urban built environment in
any period between 1500 and 1914. Preference will be given to topics
dealing with the Caribbean, South America, and/or Africa in the early
modern period.

Those interested in presenting a paper are invited to submit a CV,
title, and abstract of no more than 250 words to Nancy Stieber at
nancy.stieberumb.edu by 15 May. Notifications will be sent on 1 June.

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