The Interdisciplinarity of Pilgrimage Studies – Call For Papers

The Interdisciplinarity of Pilgrimage Studies
An Interdisciplinary Conference Sponsored by the Institute for Pilgrimage Studies and the International Consortium for Pilgrimage Studies
College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA
October 16-18, 2015

“Curiosity does, no less than devotion, pilgrims make.”

Abraham Cowley (English Poet 1618-1667)

The Institute of Pilgrimage Studies in conjunction with the International Consortium for Pilgrimage Studies invites abstracts for the 4th annual Symposium October 16-18, 2015 at the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia. Encouraged themes:

  • Pilgrimage in the College Curriculum
  • Pilgrimage and Popular Culture
  • Sociology of Pilgrimage
  • Jewish Pilgrimage
  • The Body & Pilgrimage
  • Tourism & Pilgrimage
  • Space, Place and Lived Experience of Pilgrimage

We encourage submission of papers involving research and creative activity on journeys to a sacred center or travel for transformation from a broad range of disciplines and perspectives including religious studies, anthropology, literature, art history, kinesiology, classical studies, history, sociology, theater and dance. Faculty who design curricula to channel a pilgrimage trip into a fully mentored academic experience are especially welcome, including their student participants. Individual presentations will last no more than 20 minutes, with time for discussion between papers.

Contributors who assemble three-to-four participants as an integrated session will receive com­ple­ment­ary registration for the Symposium if they attend as presider of that session.
Abstracts of 500 words from faculty, independent researchers, graduate and undergraduate students may be submitted on our website (http://www.wm.edu/sites/pilgrimage/annualsymposium/abstractsubmissionform2015/index.php) until May 1st, 2015. Faculty and independent researchers should submit a short CV with their abstract; students should provide a recommendation from a faculty mentor. Students may propose to either present papers or participate in a poster session. Notification of acceptance will be sent by May 15th, 2015. Please check the website or contact Prof. Brennan Harris (mbharr@wm.edu) for further information.