Nostalgia
2nd Global Interdisciplinary Conference

Friday 12th March 2021 - Saturday 13th Martch 2021
Lisbon, Portugal

We have all probably had conversations with aged relatives and friends resulting in the oft repeated words “I remember when…”, spoken either as an illumination of the progress of the present in comparison to seeming simplicity of the past or a wistful longing for the past to be alive again in the midst of the present. Often focused on differences between generations and triggered by specific events and objects, there is an overpowering sense that things are not what they used to be. This can be a positive experience, for example, being impressed at technological progress, or conversely confusingly negative, for example, the sense of frustration with the same technology and a hankering for times when things were perceived to be much simpler and easier.

Nostalgia is an extremely powerful feeling; it can in equal measure lift us up, make us feel safe, create fond memories and/or it can bring us down, make us feel intensely isolated, lonely, left behind and depressed. There is nostalgia for things that are no longer with us and people who are no longer with us (individually and collectively). There is the sense that things that are out of place – and not only out of place but also out of time. It can be both missing things and the missing of things. Yet it can also be a real and quite intense force which forms the present and informs the future.

The 2nd meeting of this biennial global inclusive interdisciplinary project will continue to map the boundaries of nostalgia, explore the parameters within which it takes place and tentatively assess the consequences for ways of thinking, living and feeling in the 21st century. Nostalgia is being approached as a multi-layered phenomenon which consequently requires multiple insights and perspectives from academic disciplines, professional practice, ngo and voluntary activities, artists, song writers, performers and anyone who engages with forms and varieties of nostalgia.

From the conversations and dialogues which take place, our intention is to form a selective innovative interdisciplinary publication to engender further research and collaboration.

Key Topics
We welcome proposals from a wide range of perspectives and voices, on topics including but not limited to:

~ Exploring Nostalgia: What is it? What triggers it? What motivates it? Nostalgia, perception and reality; nostalgia and meaning; nostalgia and emotion
~ Nostalgia and Physical and Mental Health: nostalgia, illness and disease; nostalgia and the impact of dementia, Alzheimers and neurological problems; nostalgia and the role of memory; nostalgia and the impact of age; nostalgia and trauma; nostalgia as therapy; nostalgia and health practices
~ Nostalgia and Contemporary Culture: Aesthetics of nostalgia: creating the look and feel of the past in visual culture
~ Nostalgia as Business: The Retro clothing movement, “vintage” stores, the “classic” sales movement; the antique trade, shabby chic and classic merchandise; classic cars; Nostalgia and business; advertising; selling; design; Nostalgia and reverence for the past
~ Nostalgia and Media: genres of film, media, literature, visuals arts, music that are rooted in nostalgia, or which critique, supplement or illuminate the phenomenon music studies – new artists with old sounds, vinyl records, placing old artists on new media: film – use of taboo words in classic film vs today, making modern films “true” to an old era: bloggers who reminisce of the past
~ Negative Nostalgia:Nostalgia and politics: conservatism and the call to return to ‘the way things used to be’; nostalgia as a cloak for racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia; nostalgia and revisionism; rewriting history; nostalgia and false memory
~ Preserving Nostalgia: nostalgia, memory and childhood; growing up and growing old; personal narratives, family histories and transmitting memories nostalgia and public memory; commemoration; memorials (physical and digital); spaces and places of remembrance; architecture and nostalgia.

What To Send
The aim of this inclusive interdisciplinary conference and collaborative networking event is to bring people together and encourage creative conversations in the context of a variety of formats: papers, seminars, workshops, storytelling, performances, poster presentations, problem-solving sessions, case studies, panels, q&a’s, round-tables etc. Creative responses to the subject, such as poetry/prose, short film screenings/original drama, installations and alternative presentation styles that engage the audience and foster debate are particularly encouraged. Please feel free to put forward proposals that you think will get the message across, in whatever form.

At the end of the conference we will be exploring ways in which we can develop the discussions and dialogues in new and sustainable inclusive interdisciplinary directions, including research, workshops, publications, public interest days, associations, developing courses etc which will help us make sense of the topics discussed during the meeting. There is an intention, subject to the discussions which emerge during the course of the meeting, to form a selective innovative interdisciplinary publication to engender further research and collaboration.

300 word proposals, presentations, abstracts and other forms of contribution and participation should be submitted by Friday 4th September 2020. Other forms of participation should be discussed in advance with the Organising Chairs.

All submissions will be at least double reviewed, under anonymous (blind) conditions, by a global panel drawn from members of the Project Team, The Development Team and the Advisory Board. In practice our procedures usually entail that by the time a proposal is accepted, it will have been triple and quadruple reviewed.

You will be notified of the panel’s decision by Friday 18th September 2020.

If your submission is accepted for the conference, a full draft of your contribution should be submitted by Friday 15th January 2021.

Abstracts and proposals may be in Word, RTF or Notepad formats with the following information and in this order:
a) author(s), b) affiliation as you would like it to appear in the programme, c) email address, d) title of proposal, e) type of proposal e.g. paper presentation, workshop, panel, film, performance, etc, f) body of proposal, g) up to 10 keywords.

E-mails should be entitled: Nostalgia Submission

Where To Send
Abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to the Organising Chair and the Project Administrator:

Seán Moran: sean@progressiveconnexions.net
Len Capuli (Project Administrator): bratislavanostalgia@progressiveconnexions.net

What’s so Special About a Progressive Connexions Event?
A fresh, friendly, dynamic format – at Progressive Connexions we are dedicated to breaking away from the stuffy, old-fashion conference formats, where endless presentations are read aloud off PowerPoints. We work to bring you an interactive format, where exchange of experience and information is alternated with captivating workshops, engaging debates and round tables, time set aside for getting to know each other and for discussing common future projects and initiatives, all in a warm, relaxed, egalitarian atmosphere.

A chance to network with international professionals – the beauty of our interdisciplinary events is that they bring together professionals from all over the world and from various fields of activity, all joined together by a shared passion. Not only will the exchange of experience, knowledge and stories be extremely valuable in itself, but we seek to create lasting, ever-growing communities around our projects, which will become a valuable resource for those belonging to them.

A chance to be part of constructing change – There is only one thing we love as much as promoting knowledge: promoting real, lasting social change by encouraging our participants to take collective action, under whichever form is most suited to their needs and expertise (policy proposals, measuring instruments, research projects, educational materials, etc.) We will support all such actions in the aftermath of the event as well, providing a platform for further discussions, advice from the experts on our Project Advisory Team and various other tools and intellectual resources, as needed.

An opportunity to discuss things that matter to you – Our events are not only about discussing how things work in the respective field, but also about how people work in that field – what are the struggles, problems and solutions professionals have found in their line of work, what are the areas where better communication among specialists is needed and how the interdisciplinary approach can help bridge those gaps and help provide answers to questions from specific areas of activity.

An unforgettable experience – When participating in a Progressive Connexions event, there is a good chance you will make some long-time friends. Our group sizes are intimate, our venues are comfortable and relaxing and our event locations are suited to the history and culture of the event.

Ethos
Progressive Connexions believes it is a mark of personal courtesy and professional respect to your colleagues that all delegates should attend for the full duration of the meeting. If you are unable to make this commitment, please do not submit an abstract or proposal for presentation.

Please note: Progressive Connexions is a not-for-profit network and we are not in a position to be able to assist with conference travel or subsistence, nor can we offer discounts off published rates and fees.

Please send all enquiries to: bratislavanostalgia@progressiveconnexions.net

For further details and information please visit the conference web page: http://www.progressiveconnexions.net/interdisciplinary-projects/narratives-persons-communities/nostalgia/conferences/

Sponsored by: Progressive Connexions