my conference contributions

Conference to dos are rather longer than I made out.

I need to write & circulate the questions for the round table.

I need to write my own paper.

I need to write blurb to go with Deborah's concert.


So, let's start with the round table. I have Guido Ruggiero (history), Laura Macy (music), and Julia Hairston (literature). Only three. Art history isn't represented, but I guess it's too late now.

Kinds of questions I'm interested in:

1. Discussion over validity of the concept of sexuality/ies for this period. Obviously if same sex preferences and practices are historically contingent then different sex preferences and practices are also historically contingent. The term sexualities implies stable sexual identity but that might be inappropriate for the period. (What's that word, something about time/chronology??)

2. How do literature, art, & music contribute to these historically contingent sexual practices? (Regardless of whether they are sexualities?) We've heard (I hope) a fair bit about how they relate to practices of the time; do they have any regulatory function? How do they complement or undermine or otherwise relate to law?

3. What can the different disciplines learn from eachother? Is there an aspect of sexual practices that is (un)covered by examining literature/art/music, that isn't available any other way?