Beyond Reality: Post-Intellectualism and the Re/Emergence of Subjective Truths

Departmental Event

Start Date: Apr 10, 2020 - 12:00am
End Date: Apr 11, 2020 - 12:00am

Location: Online - please use the link below

12th Annual Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies Graduate Student Conference and Workshop

Please click on this link to join the conference.

The destabilization of truth and rejection of authority is a powerful force. Although the terms “anti-intellectual”and “post-truth” were coined relatively recently, such terms connote trends which often reappear in different guises. The consequences of these trends translate into a growing and widespread distrust of authority. The prevalence of this phenomenon necessitates a discussion of subjectivism, rejection of scientific innovation, propaganda, political climates, societal conflict, and other concepts related to subjective and objective notions of reality. In any period of such upheaval, we must ask: How have waves of anti-intellectualism and subjective truths ebbed and flowed in different periods? What can it mean to be “beyond reality”? Perhaps the credo, “I think, therefore I am,” is better expressed as “I think, therefore I am right” (as illustrated by meme artist Shovel).
We are looking for papers discussing truth, post-truth, and illusion in society and cultural representations. We pose these questions specifically to fields pertaining to literature, anthropology, cultural studies, classical studies, digital humanities, philosophy, art history, history, and sociology, but gladly welcome submissions from all fields pertaining to the topic of the conference.

For additonal information, click here to view the flyer.