The 9th International Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference, which is set to take place from July 2-6 in the City of Light, is currently seeking speakers to present on animal rights law, animal slaughter and religious rites, relations between humans and animals, and animal studies and posthumanity. Hosted by Sorbonne Nouvelle University and UNESCO (that’s, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), this big-deal academic conference aims to “examine the intersection between culture, power and knowledge from within the framework of Cultural Studies,” and you’ve got to hand it to them for throwing the complex and profound human-animal relationship into the mix.
Though animal issues should clearly be a part of every cultural studies conference, it’s frequently overlooked, so merci beaucoup to the Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference for paving the way for others to follow suit (and thus concludes the extent of my French). In addition to animal issues, other proposed topic suggestions for the conference include environmental justice, disability studies, and transgender perspectives.
Not to sound obvious, but holy (rescued) Shih Tzu, this sounds like a conference I want to attend! In the daydream I’m currently having where I can somehow swing this, I will certainly make a quick stop at the Paris vegan B&B, The Gentle Gourmet.