CFP: murder as a fine art
A series of seminars in London deals with "The Art of Murder" in the scientific and artistic terms (via H-film ).
Deadline: 7/12/2009
Call for Papers / Presentations Art
2010 Seminar in Visual Culture: The Art of Murder
Deadline for proposals: 7 Dec 2009
Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, Room ST 275
(School of Advanced Study, Stewart House, 32 Russell Square, WC1B 5DN
London)
This series of seminars acts as a forum for practicing artists,
researchers, curators, students, and others interested in visual culture
who are invited to present, discuss and explore a given theme within the
broad field of Visual Culture.
In 2010, the theme of the seminar is' The Art of Murder. "
Artists and writers have always been fascinated with the violence of
murder and the thrill and sensationalism that comes with it. Many
examine it in critical, theoretical or creative forms of expression
exploring the hidden fears and desires inherent in breaking the most
sacred taboo, the destruction, and thereby for some the renewal, of life
itself.
Thomas de Quincey considered 'murder as One of the fine arts', and the
murderer as artist, in his eponymous satirical article from 1827th WH
Auden calls murder 'negative creation', and like the classical
rebel-poet/artist Auden's murderer is' the rebel who claims the right to
be omnipotent. " According to legend George Bataille dally in a more
dangerous fashion with the artistic act of murder.
Today, artworks by serial killer John Wayne Gacy fetch up to $ 15,000 at
auction. In the Washington-based Museum of Crime and Punishment one can
will admire art and craft made by Charles Manson and an online search
provide opportunities to purchase one of his sock puppets. Marcus
Harvey's portrait of Myra Hindley child-murderess, which was created
from the hand-prints of children, attracted much criticism, but it also
drew the crowds.
When crime writer Patricia Cornwell cut up a painting by Walter Sickert
in her quest to prove that Sickert was Jack the Ripper, the art-world
was outraged. However, whether we believe Cornwell's theory or not,
Sickert's paintings suddenly acquired a new fascination.
This cross-disciplinary seminar series 'The Art of Murder' sets out to
explore visual representations of actual murder in fine art, theater,
film and literature, as well as our relationship with artefacts and
artworks created by criminals.
Contributions are invited from individuals working in the fields of art
history, philosophy, literary, cultural and visual studies, film and
media studies, theater and history.
Artists are therefore invited to present new (and existing) work on the
theme.
Please send proposals for art presentations (200 words plus images) or
academic papers (200 words) to Ricarda Vidal: ricarda.vidal @ sas.ac.uk
by 7 December 2009.
Please indicate which date you would prefer for your talk.
Dates and times:
Wednesday 27 Jan. 2010, 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Wednesday 24 Feb. 2010, 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Wednesday 24 March 2010, 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Wednesday 26 May 2010, 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Dr Ricarda Vidal
Lecturer in Visual Culture
Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies
School of Advanced Study
Stewart House, 32 Russell Squ, London WC1B 5DN
phone: 020 7862 8961
