Early Modern Women Writers
at the Othello’s Island Conference
CVAR, Nicosia, Cyprus
5 to 9 April, 2017
Full details please visit www.tiny.cc/emww
Early Modern Women Writers is a semi-autonomous conference strand within the annual interdisciplinary conference on medieval, renaissance and early modern studies, held annually since 2013, in Cyprus, called Othello’s Island.
As a whole, Othello’s Island attracts over 100 delegates, whose topics include archaeology, art history, history, and literary studies, to name but a few, with a significant section covering early modern women writers, such as Mary Wroth, Aphra Behn and Margaret Cavendish.
Our aim with the distinct strand is to consider women writers from this period as individual writers in their own right, in relation to wider society and culture at the time, and in terms of their contemporary and posthumous reputations.
Reference to Cyprus or the Mediterranean region is not obligatory in delegates’ papers, but it is notable that many women writers from this period do make mention of Cyprus and its environs. Consequently, this aspect of their work is frequently a topic of debate.
The Early Modern Women Writers’ strand is fully intergrated into the full Othello’s Island conference, and delegates can mix-and-match attendance at the Early Modern Women Writers strand with other talks at the conference. Those taking part are also welcome to join in with the social events for the wider conference, including group meals and trips to some stunning medieval and renaissance sites.
However, the strand is intended to act as a distinct annual focus for the study of early modern women writers, and we try to ensure at least one full day of talks and discussions on this specific topic (depending on the number of papers received each year).
CALL FOR PAPERS FOR 2017
If you are interested in giving a talk at the conference on the Early Modern Women Writers Strand please submit a proposal for a paper as early as possible. Standard papers are 20 minutes long, followed by 5 or 10 minutes for questions.
The overall theme of the Othello’s Island conference is mediaeval and renaissance art, literature, social and cultural history, but the Early Modern Women Writers Strand has a specific focus on women writers between, approximately, the years 1550 and 1700. There is flexibility in this, but if your paper does not fit in this area you should submit it instead to the main Othello’s Island conference.
Many women writers from this period, including for example Mary Wroth, cite Cyprus in their works, but it is not a requirement that this is the case, of that Cyprus is discussed even if your writer(s) do mention it.
Proposals for papers should comprise a cover sheet showing:
- Your title (eg. Mr, Ms, Dr, Prof. etc.) and full name
- Your institutional affiliation (if any)
- Your postal address, e’mail address and telephone number
- The title of your proposed paper
With this you should send a proposal/abstract for your paper of no more than 300 words and a copy of your CV/resume to: mparaskos@mac.com with the subject line OTHELLO WOMEN WRITERS 2017.
All papers must be delivered in English. Attendance of speakers is mandatory. We do not allow Skype or proxy presentations.
The deadline for submissions of proposals is 1 January, 2017. Early submission is strongly advised. We aim to have a decision on the acceptance of papers within four weeks of submission.
If you have any questions please contact Professor James Fitzmaurice at j.fitzmaurice@sheffield.ac.uk
