The Stimulated Body and the Arts: The Nervous System and Nervousness in the History of Aesthetics

Dear CORPUS Members

Our colleague Menara Lube Guizardi sent me the call for papers for the panel Exporting Bodily Experiences: Capoeira and Tango outside of Brazil and Argentina (meeting of the American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, November 17^th 21^st) – all the details in the attached document.

For his part, Tomás received the following call for papers

Best wishes

The Stimulated Body and the Arts: The Nervous System and Nervousness in
the History of Aesthetics

International Interdisciplinary Conference
17-18 February 2011
Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease, Durham University, UK
Venue: Hatfield College, Durham, UK
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 31 July 2010 

This conference will discuss the history of the relationship between
aesthetics and medical understandings of the body. Today's vogue for
neurological accounts of artistic emotions has a long pedigree. Since
G.S. Rousseau's pioneering work underlined the importance of models of
the nervous system in eighteenth-century aesthetics, the examination of
physiological explanations in aesthetics has become a highly productive
field of interdisciplinary research. Drawing on this background, the
conference aims to illuminate the influence that different medical
models of physiology and the nervous system have had on theories of
aesthetic experience. How have aesthetic concepts (for instance,
imagination or genius) be grounded medically? What effect did the shift
from animal spirits to modern neurophysiology have on aesthetics?
The medical effects of culture were not always regarded as positive. The
second focus of the conference will be the supposed ability of excessive
reading, music and so on to 'over-stimulate' nerves and cause
nervousness, mental and physical illness, homosexuality and even death.
It will consider questions regarding the effects of various theories of
neuropathology and psychopathology on the concept of pathological
culture. What kinds of culture could lead to such over-stimulation? How
was this medical critique of culture related to moral objections and
changes in gender relations, politics and society? How was it linked to
medical concern about lack of attention and willpower?
This interdisciplinary conference brings together scholars working in a
wide range of fields, including not only the history of medicine but
also in subjects such as art history, languages and musicology.
Abstracts for 20-minute papers (maximum 250 words) should be submitted
electronically to the organisers by 31 July 2010 at the following
address:
James.kennaway@durham.ac.uk   

Organisers
Dr James Kennaway
Professor Holger Maehle
Dr Lutz Sauerteig

http://www.dur.ac.uk/chmd/    

_____________
Katherine Smith
Outreach Officer

Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease
Wolfson Research Institute
Durham University
Queen's Campus
University Boulevard
Thornaby
Stockton on Tees
TS17 6BH
Tel: + 44 (0)191 3340700
Email: Katherine.Smith@durham.ac.uk