Experiences of War

Ph.D. Seminar

Experiences of War

A multidisciplinary Ph.D. seminar on experiences of war’s impact on society and its political, military, literary, cultural and philosophical life.

The basic thought directing this interdisciplinary set-up of the course seminar is that, on the one hand, the phenomenon ‘war’ appears to be of major importance within a broad range of disciplines in the human and social sciences and, on the other, that it seems close to impossible to grasp the phenomenon in a satisfactory way if analysed only from the perspectives of classical academic disciplines in isolation. War appears a pivotal phenomenon in the history of civilisation, as it sets off revolutionary dynamics and standards across the fields of politics, law, art, literature, thought, culture, science etc. in such a way, we may assume, that it remains a key point of reference in present-day societies. For these reasons it appears particularly promising to gather scholars of distinct academic disciplines for a Ph.D. researcher course seminar with the title “War Experiences.” It is our expectation that the course will stimulate synergetic energies between the professional disciplines represented, and that, hopefully, some light can be shed on the possible blind angles and dark spots of established perspectives. Thus, it is our hope that, within the context of this courseseminar, this strictly martial subject will take on a diverse and broadly appealing academic character.

The seminar convenes 8-11 May 2007.

The Seminar venue will be held at the University of Copenhagen, Nnjalsgade 80, DdKk 2300 Kkøbenhavn Ss, Ddenmark Workshops on the papers to be discussed will be interspersed amongst the lectures throughout the seminar. Final programme will be sent to participants on 15 March 2007.

Tue 8 May: Arrival (at noon)
Key Note Lecture: Prof. Dr. Dietrich Beyrau, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, “Was the German-Soviet War 1941-1945 a ‘Total War’: Warfare, Experiences, and Memories.”
Excursion to Museum of National Art, Frederiksborg: Museum keeper, Dr. Søren Mentz ‘The 1864 debacle, historical art, and battle paintings’

Wed 9 May:
Professor, Dr. John Pollard, University of Cambridge, ‘Italian Fascism and Wartime Experiences’
Professor, Dr. Nils Arne Sørensen, SDU, Odense, ‘Experiences from The Great War’
Professor, Dr. Brian Holden Reid, King’s College, London, ‘War Experiences and the American Civil War’.

Thu 10 May:
Professor Michèle Martin, Carlton University, Canada, ‘Collective Memories in Illustrated Journals of the Franco-Prussian War’. (Coffee while working)
Professor, Dr. Anette Warring, RUC, ‘War and Gender’
Professor, Dr. Richard Holmes, Cranfield University, ‘Dusty Warriors: Experiences from the War on Terror’
Seminar Dinner party

Fri 11 May:
Dr. Andreas Marklund, University of Copenhagen, ‘Beyond the Fields of Glory: Military Honour and the Spectre of Failure in the Life of Magnus Stenbock’
The New Arsenal Museum concept, Dr. Hans Henrik Appel
Seminar conclusion (at noon)

Contact:
Ms Rutt Mikkelsen,
The Saxo Institute,
University of Copenhagen,
Denmark
Phone: +45 35329461
f ax: +45 35329495,

Email: rutt@hum.ku.dk
Visit the website at http:// www.war.saxo.ku.dk