Whence and Whither?: Methodology and the Future of Biblical Studies

Call For Papers: The 'Whence and Whither panel in Rome 2009 will offer THREE sessions. The FIRST will consider the relationship between violence and community identity as manifested in a variety of ancient and biblical texts. Paper proposals should interrogate the various and complex ways violence operates in the formation of group identity through violent rhetoric, revenge fantasies, apocalyptic judgment, curses, calls for Holy War, etc. Papers that explicitly engage critical theory or post-modern approaches are especially welcome as are those that clarify their definition of violence. This panel seeks to understand the frequent connection between violence and the formation of community boundaries as reflected in sacred and other literature of the ancient Mediterranean world. Coordinator of this session is Kim Stratton (Carleton University). The SECOND session welcomes papers on cinematic Representations of (Biblical) Rome. From Federico Fellini’s 1969 film “Satyricon” to the epic television series “Rome”, broadcasted between 2005 and 2007, the depiction of historical Rome is a recurring theme within visual culture over the last 60 years. Recent publications (e.g. Richard Wrigley’s edited volume Cinematic Rome [2008] and Monica S. Cyrino’s Big Screen Rome [2005]), similarly point to the sustained interest in representations of Rome. The modern world is critically engaged with these ancient representations. Do they tell us more about our world or the ancient world? And how do we know the difference? Film and cultural theory papers are welcome, as well as those that explore the more traditional elements of cinematic representation in a historical framework (is this an accurate depiction of ancient/biblical Rome--why or why not?). This session is coordinated by Laura Copier (University of Amsterdam). The THIRD session will be on 'Otherness in Children's Bibles'. Papers for this session are by invitation only.

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