Theatres of Conversion workshop: Early Modern Cities, Courts, and Playhouses

Toronto: 24-25 October, 2014
Deadline for application: 1 August 2014

The Theatres of Conversion workshop, co-hosted by the Early Modern Conversions Project and the Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies (CRRS) at Victoria University in the University of Toronto, will study how early modern cities, courts, and playhouses became sites of performative transformation (religious, social, sexual, cultural, human-animal, material). In London, Madrid, Paris, and Lima/Cuzco, among other cities, urban, courtly, and theatrical spatiality and culture attracted people to the metropolis from within national boundaries and across borders between nations, religions, and ethnic identities and afforded migrants the chance to change themselves or be changed in radical ways. Indeed the boundary-crossing movements themselves became the central agents and means of transformation.

In addition to the members of the Early Modern Conversions project, the workshop invites work-in-progress from scholars from the Toronto academic community at all stages of their careers, and especially welcomes the participation of graduate students and recent graduates. The workshop will also feature working sessions that focus on particular texts, works of visual art, music, and artifacts.

To apply to participate, please send a one-page abstract and a short (2-page) CV to conversions@mcgill.ca by 1 August 2014.