CFP Cultures of Sound and Listening

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Working Title: Cultures of Sound and Listening in Latin America and the
Caribbean

In recent years scholars of music, communication, history of
technology,
and aesthetic theory have begun to challenge the primacy of the visual
in the constitution of various understandings of the modern. This
interdisciplinary field has focused on a wide range of aspects of aural
culture, and in so doing has initiated the rethinking of standard
narratives about the cultures of technology and the practices of
listening.

However, with some exceptions, this discussion has taken place largely
among scholars of Europe or North America. Hoping to add fresh insights
and alternative interpretations, this volume will add contributions
from
Latin American and Caribbean perspectives to that dialogue.

This multi-disciplinary collection of essays will consider the specific
history of sound and listening in various cultures across Latin
American
and the Caribbean.

Proposals should present original research and commentary on at least
one of the following related topics:

1.) Nineteenth century technologies: (i.e. telegraphy, recording and
their ramifications).
2.) Early radio (techniques, equipment, listeners, etc.).
3.) Commercial radio (i.e. the development, "uses" and evolving culture
of broadcasting especially including non-musical programming such as
news, talk shows, political propaganda).
4) Film and sound.
5.) Emerging soundscapes of modernity (public/urban/rural sounds, noise
abatement, architecture/acoustic design) 6.  The production of
listening
as cultural and social practice, and changing approaches or techniques
of listening. 7. Recording, memory and ethnography. 8. Literature and
art and their relationships to changing sound technologies.

Interested scholars should submit a one page abstract and short
curriculum vitae to Alejandra Bronfman bronfman@interchange.ubc.ca or
Andrew G. Wood Andrew-wood@utulsa.edu before November 1, 2007.
Proposals
will be reviewed by subject, depth of research, originality and
potential contribution to the literature.  Notifications will be made
by
December 15, 2007.