Hosted by Wits Institute of Social and Economic Research (WiSER) at the University of the Witwatersrand
Discussions around the breath and breathing have become increasingly timely and pertinent with the coronavirus affecting how we think about morbidity and mortality; lungs and livelihoods across the African continent; and as we bear witness to the asphyxiation of the planet and people at the hands of the powerful and privileged.
The BREATH: INSPIRE/EXPIRE symposium will bring academics and artists together to creatively think about the many ways that breath and breathing feature in our everyday lives, during mundane times or periods of crisis. Participants are invited to explore themes around breath - the physical processes to inhale, or inspire - and exhale, or expire - as well as metaphorical or conceptual extensions of what it means to inspire and expire.
The symposium will consist of a series of virtual events across October and November 2020. An anchor event will take place in both months and will be in conversation with a variety of other contributions including live panel discussions, online performances, circulated papers, and pre-recorded content uploaded to the Medical and Health Humanities Africa YouTube channel. The programme will include conventional synchronous virtual events as well as alternative formats.
Please contact the organising team at breathsymposium2020@gmail.com if you would like more information.
If you would like to contribute to this event please complete the form (see link below) confirming your participation, contribution, preferred form of presentation, and your availability. Please kindly complete by Monday 03 August 2020.
https://forms.gle/RnkmyFGikB3PT9G4A .
Diverse presentation formats including the conventional conference paper, as well as poetry, photography, film, and music are welcome. Participants are invited to think creatively about such formats and the organisers will do their best to accommodate as wide a variety of formats and events as possible.
There are limited number of symposium bursaries available for creative professionals who are interested in creating new works for the symposium. These bursaries are particularly for creative professionals who may not have alternative full-time employment and whose livelihoods have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
There are also resources available to those who may need assistance with data bundles in order to contribute in the symposium.
Look out for the upcoming programme of events on the MHHA website (and upcoming newsletter) and Facebook page.
