National Multidisciplinary Seminar Indian Aesthetics: Convergences and Divergences

26-28 February 2010: * Department of Humanities & Social

Sciences * Department of Architecture and Regional Planning , Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India

Welcome to the webpage of National Multidisciplinary Seminar on "Indian Aesthetics: Convergences and Divergences."

The seminar aims to explore how the different aspects of Indian art tradition have been influenced by one another, have drawn inspiration from other traditions or have influenced them. It also wishes to look at how contemporary practitioners of various art forms including visual arts, plastic arts, music, performing arts and folk arts draw inspiration from tradition and innovate. It wishes to both explore points of convergences as well points of departures, deviations and divergences, and wishes to do this by a unique combination of theory and practice. Thus, it would include (a) Scholarly papers in the above area and (b) Presentationse/exhibitions of various kinds of arts by artists.

Theme

In exploring Indian aesthetics it has been a tendency among scholars to seek a grand unification, to suggest that everything can come under a common umbrella. This tendency is not new. Even among early poeticians this tendency is very much there – each of them attempting to fit in everything under their favourite theory. Modern aestheticians have sometimes followed similar lines. In the process, often poetics has been equated with aesthetics. One may even go so far as to say that many pundits and the literate poeticians of the past, who also had a knowledge of the other arts, used aesthetic tools borrowed from poetics to diverse other art forms. This raises the question, is it not possible that many art forms have their own intrinsic aesthetic criteria which have been neglected? For instance, Rasa theory, borrowed from dramatics, applied to poetry, is employed on just about all art forms. True, this is partly due to the competence and flexibility of this emotive theory which makes it suitable for wider application. It might also be due to the tradition of poeticians (including Anandavardhana and Abhinavagupta) who wanted to extend the use of their favourite theory.

A similar argument is applicable in case of Indian architecture, commonly known as Sthapatya kala Vidya or at times, Vastu Vidya. There are ritualistic, astrological aspects of this ancient wisdom, which are perhaps not that ancient but divergent products of a degenerating middle age. The ecological and environmental aspects, on the contrary, which borders on the anthropometric and the cosmic, are much older and original and are subjects of convergences. Likely, Indian Music based on Vedangas and Gandharva-Shastras can have similar arguments of divergences and convergences.

It is perhaps now time to make serious attempts to reexamine our traditions. The scholars who have revived India aesthetics in the contemporary context have done a great job. But it is possible that in their enthusiasm they have also over-generalized, oversimplified or over-differentiated. Our tradition is both a tradition of similarities and differences, of respect to both these tendencies. We have convergences as well as divergences; histories and alternate histories. It is perhaps time to reexamine them, to sort out issues to explore open-ended and binary possibilities of either a logical unification or scientific ramification, or perhaps both.

SubThemes

Papers and artists' presentations and exhibits addressing issues related to different aspects of convergences and divergences either related to one or more of the fields indicated below may be presented.

* Fine Arts, Painting and Photography

* Music: Theory and Performances

* Dance, Choreography and Performance

* Architecture and Built Environmental Studies

* Literature and Poetics

* Sculpture, Plastic Arts and Installations

Who can participate?

For Artists

Painters, graphic artists, musicians, sculptors, photographers, dancers, installation artists, performers, folk artists and digital artists are welcome to join the Seminar. Teams or groups are also encouraged to showcase their work.

Focus areas for participation: Indian art and aesthetics is not something static. It is dynamic and its living breath can be felt in the various aspects of art as it is practiced in the contemporary scenario. Some artists work within the tradition and experiment within it while others make radical jumps or while using a non-Indian tradition draw heavily from it. The seminar would welcome all such efforts. The seminar proposes to provide a unique platform to artist of all kinds to showcase or demonstrate their works. However, it is important that their work be linked to at least one of the core themes of the seminar in an intrinsic way. Indian arts have always shared and borrowed from one another, taken inspiration from elements outside themselves, and resulted in creative assimilations. They have also departed from established norms on many occasions and keeping tradition in the background, explored new territories. Artists are encouraged to present works which show inspirations and influences of tradition as well as departures from tradition. The theme of convergences and divergences should be kept in mind.

How can they participate? Performing artists like dancers, musicians, performers, puppeteers etc. can give a lec-dem (lecture demonstration) of their work in about 20 minutes. They are also encouraged to have audio/video representation of their work on CDs/DVDs which can be screened during the seminar.

Visual artists like painters, graphic artists, sculptors, photographers and musicians are requested to get slides/PPTs of their representative works which they can show in the seminar and talk about them. Exhibition space can also be provided to them in case they wish to bring their works and put them on display.

Submission for artists: Brief proposal for Presentations may be sent as per the deadlines indicated below.

Performance or Exhibition proposals A brief outline of proposed performance or exhibition should be sent by 1 December 2009 for the organizers to screen and make necessary arrangements.

For Scholars

Eminent invited speakers from diverse fields would address these issues in plenary sessions

Researchers, Academicians, Practitioners, Thinkers and Policy Makers in the fields of diverse arts are welcome to contribute papers, give demonstrations/exhibitions and attend the conference.

Please send us your abstract for consideration and go through the registration details.

Submission of Papers: Email submissions of abstracts is preferred. If your proposal is accepted, you are requested to send your full lenght paper before the deadline indicated below. In addition to email submission, hard copies of the abstract (within 300 words) and full length papers bearing name and detailed contact information (email, phone/mobile and fax) of the author should be mailed to the coordinator. A book of abstract would be distributed during the conference. Select papers will be published as an edited volume.

Deadlines (Extended)

Submission deadlines for Abstracts and Poster proposals: 15 December 2009

Communication of acceptance of Abstracts and Posters: 31 December 2009

Submission of complete Papers and Posters: 31 January 2010

Registration

Participants are required to pay a registration fee of Rs. 2500=00 (Registration from enclosed). Those who register beyond 31 December 2009 will have to pay Rs. 2800=00 instead. The charge for each accompanying person is Rs.1500=00. The registration fee can be paid by account payee (crossed) Demand Draft in favour of “CEP-STC, IIT Kharagpur” payable at Kharagpur. Each participant has to fill up a separate registration form. The form may be photocopied or can be downloaded at from this link. The registration form and demand draft are to be mailed to Dr. P. Patnaik , Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal, India 721302.

Registration entitles an outstation participant to the conference kit, boarding and lodging for the duration of the conference. Guest House accommodation (on twin sharing basis) would be arraged. Travel expenses have to be borne by the participants themselves. Spouses and accompanying persons will have to pay Rs. 1500=00 each.

Deadlines

Submission deadlines for Abstracts and Poster proposals: 15 December 2009

Communication of acceptance of Abstracts and Posters: 31 December 2009

Submission of complete Papers and Posters: 31 January 2010

Seminar dates

26, 27, 28 February 2010

Venue

The seminar would be held at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Founded in 1951, IIT is the forerunner of all the IITs. Khargpur is connected by road and rail to all major cities of India. It is 115 kms from Kolkata. The campus is about 4 kms from Kharagpur railway station and can be reached by taxi, auto or cycle rickshaw.

Contact information

Dr. P. Patnaik (Coordinator)

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal, India 721302

Tel: 03222-283614 (O) FAX: 03222-282270

Email: priyadarshi1@yahoo.com

Dr. Joy Sen (Coordinator)

Department of Architecture and Regional Planning

IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal, India 721302

Tel: 03222-283222 (O) FAX: 03222-282270

Email: joysen610@yahoo.co.in

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source:iit Kharagpur