Humor, Globalization, and Culture-Specificity in Modern & Contemporary Art | Frans Hals Museum & Open Universiteit, Heerlen, Netherlands

Deadline for submissions: March 1st, 2017

In these times of globalization, we are increasingly confronted with art from other cultures and countries, a significant portion of which has humorous elements. Humor is known to subvert expectations and conventions; it pushes boundaries and is, consequently and paradoxically, culturally specific, operating both within and beyond borders. This symposium, which will take place at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem while the exhibition Now that’s something! Humour in 100 years of Dutch art is on view, explores the tensions that arise when humorous artworks that are made in a specific socio-cultural context, in some cases intentionally made for a global art world, are viewed in another cultural environment.

We invite proposals that address topics from all parts of the world, such as humorous artistic practices in areas that are currently understudied, including Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Central America. Artist proposals for papers or performances will be considered for selection as well. After the symposium, all contributions will be considered for publication in an anthology or international journal.  Please send abstracts of no more than 300 words and a short curriculum vitae to m.gieskes@let.ru.nl [Mette Gieskes, Radboud University] and anneke.schulenberg@ou.nl [Anneke Schulenberg, Open University] no later than March 1, 2017.

Event: June 16, 2017

[Symposium Open University]