CfP: A Cultural History of the Universe in the Renaissance (1450-1700)
A Cultural History of the Universe in the Renaissance
(1450-1700) will be an edited volume in a six-volume series published by
Bloomsbury Publishing, expected in August 2020. This series will be a
part of Bloomsbury’s The Cultural History Series. For more information, see: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/series/the-cultural-histories-series/
Aims and Scope of the Six-Volume Series, A Cultural History of the Universe:
The
universe is, literally, everything that there is. However, commonly
defined it is outer space, beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, from the Moon
to the farthest galaxies. A Cultural History of The Universe traces
the ways in which individuals and societies have interacted with the
universe from Antiquity to the present. The emphasis will be on the
West, effectively Europe and North America, but will necessarily fully
examine the ancient Near East and the Islamic world, and contributors
will be encouraged to make connections with the wider world where
useful, notably in the encounters created by trade, art and the exchange
of ideas. Since the universe is such an all-pervasive feature in
society, the readership of A Cultural History of the Universe is anticipated to range across the social sciences, humanities and the arts.
Aims and Scope of A Cultural History of the Universe in the Renaissance.
This
volume will cover the period of the European Renaissance and Scientific
Revolution. Both concepts, especially the Scientific Revolution, have
been critiqued, yet remain conventionally accepted periods. Current
perspectives tend to emphasize continuity rather than revolution. Key
features of the period include the introduction of Platonic and Hermetic
cosmology into the Christian West, and the two centuries of scientific
investigation that began with Copernicus’s argument for heliocentricity,
Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, Galileo’s use of the telescope and
Newton’s theory of universal gravitation. The developments are vividly
represented in literature and the visual arts. The final essay will
consider conceptions of the universe in sub-Saharan Africa.
Seeking Contributors for the Following Chapters:
1. Theories of the Universe
-
This chapter will explore the development of different theoretical and
metaphysical conceptions of the universe and humanity’s relationship to
it.
6. Reckoning and Time Keeping
-
This chapter will investigate the different ways in which people have
kept time and the relationship of these timekeeping practices with
changing knowledge and conceptions of the universe.
7. Representing the Universe
-
This chapter will investigate the diverse ways in which the universe
has inspired and been represented in the arts, including the fine,
decorative and performing arts, literature, film, television and digital
media.
Each
chapter will be between 8-9,000 words, inclusive of all notes and
references. Chapters are to be an overview of a theme from the
designated period. Case material should be illustrative not substantive.
Contributors each receive a £100 fee on publication together with a
copy of their volume.
Project Timeline:
First
drafts of chapters are due to the volume editor by December 31, 2018.
All materials will be delivered to the publisher in September 2019. The
series publication is set for August 2020.
Please send CV to Lindsay Starkey (lstarke3@kent.edu) by February 2, 2018.