[H-verkko] CFP: Fascism and Technology

[agricola at utu.fi]

Agricolan Artikkelipyyntötietokantaan
( http://agricola.utu.fi/nyt/pyynnot/ )
on tullut seuraava ilmoitus:

Fascism and Technology

A workshop in the XII ISSEI conference

'Fascism and Technology'

The interwar period was characterized by a paradoxical attitude
towards modernity.  The First World War had witnessed the
destructiveness of modern technology, and thus instilled doubts about
progress. As a result, various anti-modernist movements grew in
popularity during this period (concerning both an alternative way of
living, such as naturism, and art in which the pre-war avant-gardist
ethos was replaced by a return to traditional forms such as
neoclassicism). As well, during the 1930s in particular many European
states undertook at the political level to halt urbanization,
considered a form of degeneration, and to promote life in the
countryside as a means of salvation for society.

Nevertheless, the interwar period saw the rapid modernization of many
European countries. The idea of progress, especially in terms of
technology, formed the parameters with which according to modern
nationalism the power of a nation at the international level could be
measured. 

Whilst urbanization and industrialization had changed the European
landscape, Herbert Marcuse in “Some Social Implications of Modern
Technology” (1941) and “The New German Mentality” (1942) showed how
technology, intended as “social process”, interfered with social
relationships. In Marcuse’s view the Third Reich was a technocracy in
which a new “technical rationality”, emphasizing the pursuit of
efficiency and the primacy of a “matter-of-fact” mentality, generated
inhuman values that superseded those pertaining to the welfare of
people. Such a technological attitude would influence human thought
and relationships to an extent to weaken individuality and lead to
the instauration of mass society.

This multidisciplinary workshop invites papers dealing with the
problematic of “Fascism and Technology”. In this context the term
‘Fascism’ applies to any totalitarian state – either extreme right or
extreme left – in existence during the interwar period. Suitable
topics could be related to modernity in general, technology as a
means of power, and their representation in the arts. 


If you are interested in presenting a paper, please send an
approximately 300-word abstract and your CV to the chair, Marja
Härmänmaa, by the 30th of April 2010, e-mail address:
marja.harmanmaa at helsinki.fi

Marja Härmänmaa
Language Centre
P.O. Box 4
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki



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Ilmoituksen lähetti: Marja Härmänmaa <marja.harmanmaa at helsinki.fi>
Ilmoitus vanhentuu: 20.05.2010
Lisätietoja WWW-osoitteesta: http://issei2010.haifa.ac.il/