Facades: the Architecture of (In)Authenticity
Hosted by Stony Brook University Philosophy Department
Will be held in Manhattan, NY:
March 28th-29th
Keynote address by Dr. Kent Bloomer
Call for papers and Artworks:
The façade—the aspect of a building that both looks at, and is seen from, the street—erects a philosophically and artistically productive ambivalence. Depending on the building’s purpose and comportment, the façade may bear little or no resemblance to the structure within. A façade may clearly indicate the purpose of a structure—such as those of government buildings, restaurants, or grocery stores; they may function as merely surface covering—such as the prescribed façades of residential buildings in some historic neighborhoods; or they may be transparent, “invisible,” or feigning—such as the façade of a “speak-easy”. As a metaphor, the ambivalence erected by the façade seems to extend to numerous aspects of our engagement with the world. Just as the façade both reveals and conceals the depth of the building behind it, so the face we turn towards others both reveals and conceals our feelings, intentions, and character. We invite artists and scholars to the 2014 conference in order to explore the vicissitudes of the Façade—its place, importance, and structure. Is it pernicious or profitable? Is it necessary or elective? Is it universal or an instance of anthropo-centrism? Do the various structures of façades delimit or facilitate expression or identity formation? Other aspects of the main theme to be considered include: public/professional vs. private/personal features of façades; the relation between the façade and the human face; the politics and ethics of façades.
ELIGIBILITY: We invite the submission of original academic papers appropriate to the themes expressed in the Call for Papers from graduate students across the disciplines. We will review submissions from currently-enrolled graduate students at accredited institutions. Because the conference is intended to showcase the work of current graduate students, submissions from undergraduates, faculty members, and professional authors and artists are usually not accepted. The conference is open to submissions from all academic disciplines and all styles of philosophy. All papers must be complete at the time of submission; stand-alone paper proposals and abstracts will not be considered.
Deadline: January 12th, 2014