Representing Islam

Comparative perspectives

Representations of ‘Islam’ have a profound influence on political cultures and national identities, as well as on attitudes to immigration, security and multiculturalism. The complexity of the notion of ‘Islam’ and the heterogeneous responses that it elicits are such that there is no uniform approach to its representation and social construction. The conference addresses this complexity by treating the comparative dimension of recent representations of Islam, encompassing different nations, political institutions, media institutions, and cultures. The conference will be primarily concerned with the press, television, radio, film and the internet, but may include other channels of communication, such as translations, speeches or pamphlets, political discourse, and the visual arts. The comparative emphasis will be achieved at several levels: that of the single paper, that of the panel, and that of the conference as a whole. Papers and panels are therefore invited treating single nations or media outlets, or adopting a comparative perspective. We anticipate proposals on topics emanating from the fields of Political Communication, Communication Science, Media Studies, Film Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociology, Social Psychology, Translation Studies, Sociolinguistics, and Modern Languages. Confirmed plenary speakers: · Thomas Deltombe (France, journalist) · Alisher Khamidov (Kyrgyzstan, journalist) · Kenan Malik (England, writer and broadcaster) · Prof Tariq Modood (England, Bristol University) · Prof Greg Philo (Scotland, Glasgow University Media Unit) · Dr. Elizabeth Poole (England, Staffordshire University) · Prof Tariq Ramadan (England, France, academic and theologian) An edited volume based on selected conference papers will be published. Accommodation and meals will be provided on campus at the University of Manchester. The conference fee will be discounted for students. Please send panel and paper proposals (title + 250 word abstract) by January 31, 2008 to Oxana.Poberejnaia@manchester.ac.uk Conference Organisers: Professor Stephen Hutchings, Dr Galina Miazhevich (University of Manchester); Professor Chris Flood, Dr Henri Nickels (University of Surrey).