Visualising the North – Call For Papers

Visualising the North
Third International St Magnus Conference
Orkney Islands, Scotland
14‐16 April, 2016

The Centre for Nordic Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands, welcomes abstracts of paper and session proposals for the 3rd International St Magnus Conference, which will be
held in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, 14‐16 April 2016. The event offers an opportunity to present papers and posters on a wide range of subject areas, such as literature, archaeology,
sociology, ethnography, geography, history and art history.

The conference theme concerns Visualising the North and suggested strands within this theme encompass:

  1. Maps and mapping: The relationship between abstract, symbolic and realistic maps. The vision of ‘northness’ in early maps and literature. How was ‘the north’ understood before the compass?
  2. Landscapes: Physical landscapes, literary landscapes, mythical landscapes. Landscape and monument use and re‐use, and the understanding of the past in the past.
  3. Inhabiting the north: The life of new settlers versus that of established populations, strategies of survival in a new environment – how does this compare to other geographical areas? To what extent were mental maps and ‘meaning of place’ transported to new lands?

Keynote speakers:

  • Barbara Crawford, Honorary Reader in Medieval History, University of St Andrews; Honorary Professor, Centre for Nordic Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands
  • Kevin Smith, Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University.
  • Carla Sassi, Associate Professor of English Literature, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Verona

Submissions of single papers (abstracts of 100 words) or full sessions consisting of 3 speakers (abstracts of 400 words) within a thematic strand are welcome. All proposals should be
emailed to: CNS@uhi.ac.uk by December 1, 2015.

For more information see our website http://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/researchenterprise/cultural/centre‐for‐nordic‐studies/conferences/3rd‐international‐st‐magnusconference‐visualising‐the‐north

Contact details:

Centre for Nordic Studies, University of the Highlands and Islands
Kiln Corner, Kirkwall
KW15 1QX
Orkney Islands, UK
Tel: (+44) (0)1856 569 302
E‐mail: cns@uhi.ac.uk