University of Melbourne, Australia, December 1 - 04, 2015
Deadline: Jun 12, 2015

Call for papers for the panel: Morality and Material Culture Studies
Web link: http://www.nomadit.co.uk/aas/aas2015/panels.php5?PanelID=3705

Australian Anthropological Society 2015 Conference
The University of Melbourne, Australia 1-4 December 2015

Convenor: Gretchen M Stolte (The Australian National University)

Short Abstract
This panel will explore the concept of morality in material culture
studies, exploring issues unique to the discipline and how researchers
and participants navigate such moralities. Papers reflecting on the
morality of material studies using case studies from across the globe
will be considered.

Long Abstract
This panel will explore the concept of morality in material culture
studies, exploring issues unique to the discipline and how researchers
and participants navigate such moralities. From artworks to artefacts,
tools and weapons, for the purposes of this panel, 'material culture'
will be broadly defined in order to fully explore the question: do
material culture studies have a morality? Of main concern is the
definition of morality within material culture studies. Arguably,
morality could be defined as the ethics and perceived responsibilities
of parties engaged with or working with objects of cultural
significance. Such parties could include cultural institutions,
curators, source communities, and researchers. This panel invites
contributions from a wide variety of fields and backgrounds such as
anthropology, art history, museum studies, and Indigenous peoples
working with material culture in any capacity.

Paper topics could include (but are not limited to) issues regarding:
1. Representation of objects
2. Consultation and/or collaboration in the development of exhibitions
3. Repatriation (physical and/or digital) of material in museum
collections
4. Exhibition development in general
5. Cultural protocols surrounding permissions of displaying objects
6. Copyright responsibilities of cultural institutions
7. Conservation of objects
8. Cross-cultural object encounters

Papers reflecting on the morality of material studies using case
studies from across the globe will be considered.
Proposal Format

- a paper title
- the name/s and email address/es of author/s
- a short abstract of fewer than 300 characters
- a long abstract of fewer than 250 words

Please submit papers via the online system by the deadline Friday 12
June 2015: http://www.nomadit.co.uk/aas/aas2015/panels.php5?PanelID=3681

This panel is in the "Ethnographic theory and practice" stream. Please
email me for further information and queries: gretchen.stolte@anu.edu.au

—
Dr Gretchen M Stolte
Project Officer, Centre for Digital Humanities Research
College of Arts & Social Sciences
The Australian National University

T: +61 6125 4185
Website: http://cdhr.anu.edu.au/