Music is commonly regarded as a universal language, and yet it is also through music that the fiercest of nationalistic sentiments and inspirations for protest and rebellion have been expressed. But why does music have the capacity to direct the human imagination in this way? What does a nation sound like—or, to put it another way, why does a particular musical piece conjure up feelings of belonging to a particular nation? What aspects of the nation and its people are highlighted and what aspects are ignored by nationalistic music? How does nationalism influence the reception of music? Does being part of a particular national background shape an individual’s sense of music? How is music used against nationalistic impulses, and for protests generally? The Music and Nationalism event provides a platform for exploring these questions through inter-disciplinary dialogue and interactive engagement.

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Throughout history violence has horrified and enthralled in equal measure, defining some of our most glorious and most distressing historical events. Debate continues about the nature and implications of violence within our societies even as, in the current political moment, violence continues to define the lives of people around the globe through warfare, protest, political demonstration and discrimination. Why has violence exerted an irresistible hold on the human psyche throughout history? To what extent is violence a universal phenomenon within societies? What, if any, circumstances make violence acceptable? What factors cause people to be violent? And what can be done by individuals and communities to prevent violence?

This event is in collaboration with the Activism, Protest, and Dissent project.

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Following our first Fashion and Photography conference in Palermo in 2018, we are further broadening the interdisciplinary mix and range of potential discussions and activities. Whether dance, theatre, drama theory, directing or performance practice, the different aspects of the performing arts will be explored and developed alongside previous discussions, especially with the new challenges of technology along with the changes in audiences and performers in the 21^st century.

Our Fashion and Photography: 2nd Global Inclusive Interdisciplinary event will examine the dynamics of all these (and related) fields. In a world which is experiencing the transforming realities of globalization, with people engaging at all levels and in diverse ways, the intersections and engagements created at the interface of all the modes of representation involved in these areas and activities are paramount. They involve cultural, social, commercial, artistic, financial, and political issues, and from the bottom to the top can determine power relations, careers, sexual norms and deviance, and more.

This event is in collaboration with the Storytelling & the Body project.

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In the aftermath of the devastation created by the Holocaust, two world wars within the span of 30 years, and waves of economic depression, the articulation of inalienable rights conferred upon members of the human family simply because they are human provided a blueprint for building a fair and just global community. The challenges posed by COVID-19 and the ascendency of right-wing, populist regimes in countries around the world are among the many developments in the 21st Century that have contributed to a situation in which the protection of human rights is particularly crucial. When crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, arise and when resource supplies are suddenly burdened, the existing inequalities within society and the precariousness of human rights, particularly for those who are most vulnerable, come into stark relief. It is therefore an appropriate time to take stock of the state of human rights and develop strategies for realising the ideals of the UDHR. The global interdisciplinary Human Rights conference provides a platform for engagement among professionals and volunteer grassroots champions working in the human rights space.

This event is in collaboration with the Sustainability project.

Read more and submit your abstract here.