Submissions are open for this international, web-based arts-research conference. The mask, interpreted in its broadest sense, is one of the most ubiquitous objects across cultures. Women, a complex and diverse category of people, have specific histories and realities with masks and masquerade. The mask’s powerful and intimate association with the face and the body—as well as the psyche and the soul—crosses cultures, places, and times, revealing aspects of the private and the public body. Positioning the mask as the interstice between the internal and the external world raises questions across fields as diverse as psychology, politics, folklore, religion and ritual, medicine, activism, and play. Opportunities for making and animating masks within the conference are imperative, as they open modes of inquiry and engage embodied and arts-research methods.

The conference, which will take place across four weekends during the 2021–2022 academic year, explores the myriad intersections of the subjects, masks and women. The pairing is intended to create a thematic, yet open-ended framing, giving rise to juxtapositions and rapprochements, generating unexpected insights. These insights are expected to lead to a rich inquiry into the significance of masking practices as they connect to women. It is open to anyone. Attendees can register for single or multiple events with no registration fee. 

Priority deadline August 22, 2021. To submit a proposal or to register for updates and notifications, please sign up, here. For more information, please contact the conference chair, Dr. Felice Amato.