Global Material Religion and Mobility.

Chairs: Dr. Michael Anthony Fowler (fowlermaetsu.edu) and Dr. Joseph Kopta (joseph.koptatemple.edu).

In recent years, scholars of the premodern world have introduced new perspectives on the visual and material culture of religion, with a particular interest in cross-cultural and transnational movement, contact, and exchange. As a contribution to this new, dynamic field of inquiry, this session seeks to explore the intersection of material religion and mobility in the global premodern world.
In keeping with the SECAC (formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference) 2023 theme "Crossroads", the session is intended to be a crossroads of scholarly exchange across cultures and geographies. As such, papers which adopt a global perspective and/or engage in cross-cultural analysis are especially encouraged. Papers may be wide-ranging, including, but not limited to: issues of reception and cultural translation in religious art and architecture; the mobility of spolia, gifts, or ephemera; the artistic or architectural dimensions of travel or pilgrimage; varying concepts of preciousness and their materialization; and the sighting and location of religious architecture. Papers which develop new cross-cultural or interdisciplinary methodologies are also welcome.

Interested scholars should submit for consideration an abstract of 200 words or less via the following online portal: https://secac.secure-platform.com/a/solicitations/12/home

Abstracts may be submitted from Monday, 13 March through Monday, 1 May 2023. Official notifications of decision will be sent via e-mail by end of May 2023. Questions regarding the session may be directed to the co-chairs Dr. Michael Anthony Fowler (fowlermaetsu.edu) and Dr. Joseph Kopta (joseph.koptatemple.edu).

N.B. Any scholar whose paper is accepted to the session must be (or become) an active member of SECAC through the date of the conference, pay the conference registration fee, and be able to travel to Richmond, VA, USA for in-person participation.

For more information: https://secacart.org/page/Richmond23