The Concepts of Culture: New Directions in Conceptual History (GSA 2020)

German Studies Association, Washington, DC, October 1–4, 2020

Call for papers

The Concepts of Culture: New Directions in Conceptual History

During the last half-century, conceptual history (Begriffsgeschichte), often associated with the works of the historian Reinhart Koselleck, has proven to be a prolific methodology that has vitalized philosophy as well as political and social history. Recent studies, published in the last few years, have distinctly broadened its scope and enabled the exploration of new fields of research from a conceptual point of view. Interdisciplinarily combining conceptual analysis with other methods, contemporary conceptual history emphasizes the challenges of language in manners that are relevant to other disciplines in the humanities, such as art history, comparative literature, rhetoric, translation studies, etc.

The panel aims at contributing to this current trend in contemporary conceptual history by inviting proposals that immediately address the potentials and problems of combining the theory and terminology of conceptual history with those of other disciplines. Papers may address theoretical issues that arise as conceptual history is introduced into other disciplines or vice versa, as well as historical themes, concrete analyses of concepts in the humanities, for instance. Overall, the papers should reflect on the theoretical and methodological challenges associated with interdisciplinary historical studies.

Please send an abstract (350–600 words) alongside a short bio in either English or German to Mattias Pirholt, Södertörn University (mattias.pirholt@sh.se) by January 31, 2020.