[Air-L] CFP ASA 2018 (Oxford): Playful Bodies, Bodies at Play

[John McManus]

* Apologies for cross-posting *

Dear all,

We are pleased to invite paper submissions to the panel 'Playful Bodies,
Bodies at Play' at the
Association of Social Anthropologists of the UK and Commonwealth (ASA)
Conference (18-21 Sept 2018, Oxford)

https://nomadit.co.uk/asa/asa2018/conferencesuite.php/panels/6858

Convenors: John McManus (British Institute at Ankara), Shireen Walton
(University College London)

Discussant: Allen Abramson (University College London)

Short abstract

This panel attempts a rethink of the theoretical and methodological
potential of bodies by considering their role in the realm of leisure.
Topics up for consideration include (but are not limited to): rest, play,
gaming, relaxation, wellness, inequality, the environment and the
(im)materialities of leisure.

Long abstract

Anthropology likes bodies. In recent years, concepts such as Flexible
Bodies (Martin), the Body Multiple (Mol) and the Posthuman Body (Cerqui)
have come to the fore, challenging divisions of the social, material,
biological and digital. But attention has been disproportionately
congregated at the 'serious' end of the spectrum. What about the playful
body? The body at rest? The lazy body? Without pursuing these questions,
scholarship on the provocations of the 'embodiment turn' risks being
limited to issues such as health or ageing.

This panel attempts a rethink by exploring bodies in the realm of leisure.
Where does 'work' end and 'play' begin? Can more be made of the tension
between leisure as rest and leisure as physical exertion? We welcome any
engagement with the ideas of bodies in relation to leisure, play or
relaxation. This could include rethinking bodies in relation to extant
anthropological debates - on games as 'serious' (Ortner), play as 'deep'
(Geertz) - but could also involve pursuing the topic into fresher fields,
such as questions of inequality, the environment and other
(im)materialities of leisure. How might bodies also take centre stage in
ethnographic enquiry? What methodological opportunities are afforded by
learning to think with bodies, not just as a site but as a method of
research?

There is an untapped theoretical and methodological power in questions of
playful dispositions, moments, and movements. An exploration of bodily
leisure offers the chance to renew and recreate anthropological thought and
practice more broadly.

**CFP closes 20 April, 23.59 GMT**

Submissions should be made through the ASA/NomadIT system via the panel
link above. Further conference information and submission requirements are
available at https://www.theasa.org/conferences/asa18/index.shtml

If you have any questions you may contact the convenors via the panel page,
or email jmcmanus at biaatr.org

John McManus & Shireen Walton