Trans- States

The art of revelation

University of Northampton, 13 & 14th September, 2019
Trans-States.org

The main website is being updated for the new conference.
Keep up to date with the conference via our FB page and twitter account.

www.facebook.com/transstates/

www.twitter.com/Trans_States

trans- prefix meaning: across, beyond, through, on the other side of, to go beyond

state: a condition or way of being that exists at a particular time

An unabashed play on words, a ‘trans- state’ is, among other things, a coincidentia oppositorum. An alchemical wedding that defines the fixed place, where boundaries are actively transgressed. In many ways, this point of intersection—this crossroads—is where the role of the magician, mystic and artist collide. Where each can play a role in revealing the neoteric and the numinous, while making ruinous the antiquated and the corrupt. Revelation and revolution are often intimately linked; the sudden and violent unveiling of the truly novel, utterly alien, and ineffably Other, brings with it the upheaval of our very foundations—that of the individual, and of the societies we build. The art of revelation, is the art of cataclysm and catharsis.

The first Trans- States conference, The Art of Crossing Over, themed itself upon the Major Arcana card, The Hanged Man, and focused solely on boundary crossing, liminality and the queering of normativity. This upcoming Trans- States conference, The Art of Revelation, themes itself upon The Tower. As such, it seeks to broaden its scope to include the shock and awe of revelatory and paradigm-shifting occultural experiences; the impact and implications of anti-structure, of alterations in consciousness and of the revolutionary aspects of paranormality.

This is a transdisciplinary conference that will explore the complex interrelationships between contemporary occulture, revelation, non-ordinary states of consciousness, power, structure, textuality and deconstruction.

Confirmed Keynotes 

We are pleased to announce that we already have three extremely exciting keynote speakers confirmed:

• Wouter Hanegraaff –Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Jeffrey Kripal –Professor Kripal holds the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University, Houston, Texas.
• Daisy Eris Campbell –Writer, actor and director. Campbell recently adapted Robert Anton Wilson’s cult autobiographical book Cosmic Trigger for the stage.

 

Call for Proposals

As further guidance for proposal ideas, all proposals should relate to one or more of the following: contemporary esotericism, mysticism, spirituality, psychedelics, occulture AND—

• revelation or other highly ‘productive’ altered states of consciousness (gnosis, channeling, alienated agency, creative dissociation, etc.).
• (oc)cultural production (with specific focus on revelation and altered states of consciousness).
• cultural criticism; literary and critical theory.
• political dissidence; political extremism; radicalism; revolution.
• psychosis.
• trauma; ordeal.
• anti-structure; fragmentation.

We welcome proposals by academics, independent scholars, practitioners and artists.

We aim to promote not only the blending of disciplines, but also non-normative approaches to the theme. As such, joint proposals, collaborations, practitioner-based activities, pre-formed panels and performances are very welcome, as well as individual submissions and papers. We also welcome short film screenings; exhibited works; visual art; sound art; installations; visually interactive talks and workshops.

This list of ‘trans- states’ from the first conference may help provide additional inspiration:

Transcendental
Transformation
Transmutation
Transmedia and transnarrative
Transgender, Transexual, Gender Queer, Androgyne
Transitions and liminality
Transmissions
Transcultural
Transdermal and body modification
Transfixion
Transference
Transdisciplinary
Transfiguration
Transgression
Transhumanism­
Transmigration and metempsychosis
Transnatural art and design
Transpersonal
Transubstantiation

What to send:

Abstracts or proposals should be a maximum of 300 words (images, links to video or other visual aids may also be included, especially for exhibition/performance related proposals).

If you wish to presentandexhibit/perform, please provide a separate (although by all means directly related) proposal for each, along with your biog. In the case of performances or other logistically complex activities, please include details in your proposal of any additional requirements you may have.

Unless otherwise requested, standard presentation slots will be 20mins, with 10mins for questions. Performances can of course be longer, or shorter, depending on content/context. (We have had performances running for a couple of minutes, and long-form pieces running for hours. Simply provide a rationale for your proposed activity).

You should also include a short biog of no more than 200 words, and a current digital photo/image that depicts you (or your work). Please send portrait images (i.e. portrait not landscape: tall on the longest side, rather than wide on the longest side). 

Finally, include any social network links, website/blog info and contact information that you are happy to be shared with the general public, should you be accepted, on the Trans- States website. (See below for a full list of external links we will support).

The document should be sent in the following format: 

(1) contributor(s)

(2) any affiliation, as you would like it to appear in programme

(3) email

(4) title of proposal

(5) body of abstract/proposal(s), (max 300 words, per proposal)

(6) biog (max 200 words)

(7) any social networks links and website/blog info.

Please use the subject line: Trans- States Conference Submission

All submissions should be sent by Wednesday 6th March, as an email attachment (text document or PDF) to the following address:cavan@trans-states.org.

Applicants may be from any background, with no minimum education levels, although are expected to demonstrate expertise in their area of interest. This must be summarised in the biography.

Additional Info:

Social network links, website/blog info and contact information can be added to your speaker page on our website, should you be accepted.. You can (if you wish) supply us with any of the below links. Please stipulate which type of link it is and include the entire URL. For example:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Trans_States 

We support linking to any of the following:

> Email Address
> Facebook
> Twitter
> Linkedin
> Pinterest
> Google Plus
> Tumblr
> Instagram
> Your Website/Blog
> Flickr
> Academia.edu page
> Youtube/Vimeo