The Prague School and Theories of Structure
Department of English and American Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University,
Prague 18-21 October 2007
Call for Papers
The theme of the conference goes back to the structural concept of the language system
developed by the Prague School. The papers are expected:
1. to reassess the theoretical work of Prague structuralists (especially Bohumil Trnka and
René Wellek) and its relevance for contemporary research, and;
2. to discuss transformations of structuralist approaches in recent and contemporary
theories of structures and systems, characterized by the movement away from the
models of homogeneous, hierarchized and centralized structures to concepts of
structurality based on dehierarchized assemblages, transversal relations and dynamic
semantic situations (Einstein, Dewey, Bateson, Merleau-Ponty, Derrida, Deleuze,
etc.).
The conference will have two sections and will conclude with the first annual Prague
colloquium on “Frontiers of Theory: Technicity, Art and the New Media” (Saturday, 20
October – Sunday, 21 October 2007):
Section 1: Theories of Structure and Their Transformations
Suggested Focus Areas:
1. Prague Structuralism in relation to other structuralist and formalist trends (Saussure,
Peirce, New Criticism, cultural semiotics, etc.)
2. The legacy of the Prague School and later theories of structures and systems
3. Structuralist theories and methodologies in sciences and humanities
Section 2: Prague Structuralism and Language System
Suggested Focus Areas
1. The structural concept of the language system in contemporary descriptions of English
and its historical development
2. Interfacial aspects of the highest language level
Colloquium: Frontiers of Theory: Technicity, Art and the New Media
Suggested Focus Areas:
1. Contemporary theories of technicity in relation to semiotics, structuralism, cybernetics
and deconstruction. How does "technicity" make possible a new understanding of
language systems in the technosciences and the life sciences?
2. Technicity and contemporary culture, media and aesthetics (new media, the internet,
digitalisation, real-time communication and transmission).
Please send an abstract for a 30 minute paper (3000 words maximum) with your contact
details via e-mail by 31 March 2007 to
- Prof. Dr. Martin Procházka martin.prochazka@ff.cuni.cz (papers for Section 1)
- Doc. Dr. Jan Čermák (papers for Section 2) jan.cermak@ff.cuni.cz.
Questions concerning the colloquium on “Frontiers of Theory: Technicity, Art and the New
Media” (Saturday, 20 October – Sunday, 21 October, 2007) should be addressed to
- Dr. Louis Armand info@litterariapragensia.com .
Papers will be selected by the conference committee and the speakers will be notified by 30
April 2007 and mailed a registration form and further information.