HOFSTRA CULTURAL CENTER
and the
INTERNATIONAL JEAN GEBSER SOCIETY
present a conference
Identity, Civilization and Consciousness:
A conference on the Theoretical Intersections of Jean Gebser's Theories and Identity, Civilization and Consciousness
Thursday, Friday and Saturday
October 15, 16, 17, 2009
Keynote Speaker:
Professor Bernard Neville
School of Educational Studies
La Trobe University
Awareness of identity issues marks our present moment. "Who am I?" "Who are we?" and "Who are you?" are increasingly difficult questions to answer, though they are uestions of increasing salience to many. From the perspective of globalization, the world's numerous communities are increasingly commingling. In our neighborhoods difference is omnipresent. Diversity and modernity have shown themselves to be incommensurable. What does this mean for consciousness, civilization and their futures?
Download the Registration Program [PDF]
Though in common discussion identity is often recognized as an inherent part of human consciousness, Jean Gebser and others have problematized this notion. Gebser describes the emergence of identity as contingent upon the unfolding or development of consciousness in cultures. Emerging from the archaic consciousness "perfect identity of man and universe," today's modern and post-modern understandings of identity are hotly debated, involving matters such as individualism, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, agency and ascription. Is the present moment one of liminality? Or, has a "leap" of consciousness been made; have the various structures of consciousness become transparent matters of awareness? How have consciousness changes, if any, been manifested in behavior?
It is the aim of the International Jean Gebser Society to offer a conference with the theme of identity that will allow for a forum where papers can be presented and discussed in an air of scholarship and collegiality. The Society invites submissions that address the conference theme, though we welcome papers unrelated to the theme that demonstrate a clear relevance to the works of Jean Gebser.
For more information contact the Hofstra Cultural Center at (516) 463-5669, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dr. Philip Dalton
Department of Speech Communication, Rhetoric and Performance Studies
412 New Academic Building
160 Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY 11549-1600