CFP for The Examined Life: An Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts

Friday and Saturday, March 23-24, 2018
Saint Francis University
Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940
(Click here for a PDF of the CFP)

This conference is a celebration of the Liberal Arts. It brings together traditional research presentations, an art show/open mic, and an Ethics Bowl. To this end, we cordially invite undergraduates to submit original work of any medium on topics related to the Liberal Arts.

Types of submissions may include:

• Academic essays tailored for a 15-20 minute oral presentation;
• Poster presentation or similar visual representations of research;
• Artwork such as poetry, music, paintings, sculptors, film, photography, drama, etc.;
• An Ethics Bowl team of 3-5 undergraduates—a single school may field multiple teams;

Individuals may participate in multiple or all of these categories.

While proposals might address any appropriate topic, priority will be given to those related to this year’s theme, “Creation and Destruction.” What do we mean by the categories of “creation” and “destruction”? When is one person’s creation another person’s destruction? What responsibilities (if any) come with creation and destruction? How do race, class, gender, etc., influence perceptions of creation and destruction? In what ways do artistic expression, satire, and popular culture expand understandings of creation and destruction? At our conference, the scope of “creation and destruction” will be limited only by the imaginations of those who attend.

The conference will begin on Friday afternoon with an Ethics Bowl, a debate competition that will focus on cases concerning ethical issues surrounding creation and destruction. Friday evening will feature an art show and open mic. Conference attendees are encouraged to attend and participate in this informal social event. Academic presentations and poster displays will occur on Saturday from approximately 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The conference will conclude with an awards ceremony where we will recognize top student performers with cash prizes.

How to Submit: Email all proposals to TELUndergradConference@gmail.com by February 23, 2018. Please include your name, contact information, institutional affiliation, and the name and contact information of a professor familiar with the project. For the Ethics Bowl, please send a list of the competitors’ names and your team’s name. Essay proposals should be between 250-500 words. Final essays (8-10 pages) must be submitted by March 12, 2018. Poster presenters and art show exhibitors should email an image or narrative description of their work. To participate in the open mic, please send a name, performance genre (music, poetry, etc.), and number of participants.

This conference is open to the public and free for presenters and non-presenters. For more information, please visit our website or contact Dr. Arthur Remillard. You can also join our email list and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.