Call for Papers: Political Theology Network’s 2022 Summer Workshop Series, “Varieties of Political Theological Method”

In the article “Groundwork: Race and Aesthetics in the Era of Stand Your Ground Law,” Sarah Lewis surveys artists and cultural workers who are foregrounding the concept of grounds in their work. Re-presenting cases of premature Black death, they underscore the precarity of human subjectivity and call into question the claims to grounds that are effected in colonization, indigenous displacement, and the enactment of “Stand Your Ground ” laws. As Lewis shows, the grounds upon which we stand must shift, because they are soaked with blood and tears. Yet we also need grounds upon which to stand.

Lewis uses the term ground both literally and figuratively. This summer, following Lewis, we welcome reflection on the literal and figurative grounds upon which scholars stand as we do the work of political theology. We are eager to discuss the various sources–grounds–upon which scholars might base their work.

The theme for the Political Theology Network’s 2022 Summer Workshop Series is “Varieties of Political Theological Method.” We invite interdisciplinary work on this topic, especially papers that:

• reevaluate common methodological approaches;
• engage new archives (literature, autotheory, affect);
• exemplify innovative methods; and/or
• foreground the work of scholars who utilize innovative methods.
  

Authors of accepted papers will be invited to present their work at our Summer Workshop in June or July. A modest honorarium will be provided.

Authors should submit a 500 word abstract to Mary Nickel (mnickel@princeton.edu) and Kathy Chow (kathy.chow@yale.edu) by May 15. Please put “PTN Workshop Series Proposal” in the subject line. We will notify participants of our decisions by May 22. We would like to receive the final draft of 5,000- 9,000 words two weeks before the paper will be discussed. We look forward to reading your proposal and to resuming our workshop this summer!