SACR Conference 2011
The Material Culture (Re)Turn in Anthropology: Promises and Dead-ends
8th SACR Conference - Romanian Society of Cultural Anthropology
Casa Universitarilor (Str. Dionisie Lupu 46) map
Bucharest, 22-25 September 2011
The study of objects and human-object relations enjoyed a growing popularity during the last years through the work of scholars such as Jean Baudrillard, Daniel Miller, Arjun Appadurai or Don Slater. Ulf Hannerz (1997, Flows, Boundaries and Hybrids) and Marilyn Strathern (1995, The Relation) have noticed, that, in a curious way, the current surge in the study of objects, technology and globalization has similarities with the anthropology of the early 20th century, through the focus on technology and diffusion. Recent anthropological work in field of material culture and science and technology studies, among other things, have changed the way we understand nature and culture, consumption and production, human-non human divide or the relation between culture and economy.
We seek presentations that broadly engage such themes. Presentations may, but are not required to engage themes related to consumption and material consumption, but also bodily practices, mobility and migration, household economies, media and culture, science and technology studies, ethnographies of work and professional groups, environment and natural resources or exchange.
Researchers at all career stages encouraged to apply. The applicants do not need to be members of SACR Romanian Society of Cultural Anthropology (www.antropo.ro) in order to join the conference. Applications are open to all researchers with professional interests in the field of anthropology, from abroad and from Romania, members and non-members of SACR. We strongly encourage the participation of MA students, PhD students and young researchers.
Keynote speakers
Daniel Miller, University College London, UK, title TBC
Slobodan Naumovic, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Germany/Serbia, title TBC
Anthropological films: In the second and third evenings of the conference (the 23rd and 24th of September), we will project anthropological documentaries. The list is still open so if you want to submit one film that you realized, please contact us, so that we can include you in the program.
Application process: We accept both individual abstracts and panel proposals. Panel proposals should have three or four individual abstracts and a short (maximum 100 words) description. Individual abstracts should have no more than 150 words.
The languages of the conference are English, French and Romanian. Abstracts may be written in any language of the conference. If you plan to present in Romanian or French, please also attach the English translation.
Individual abstracts and panel proposals should be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Submission deadline: August 10th, 2011. The results and the preliminary program will be sent by August 15th, 2011.
Publishing: SACR will publish the proceedings of the conference in the form of an e-book, in association with Humanitas Publishing (www.humanitas.ro), Humanitas Digital Division. Only participants who also paid the membership fee for 2011 will be included into the proceedings of the conference.
Accomodation: SACR will not provide, but will be able to assist with finding economy accommodation in a few hostels in Bucharest. The program of the conference and the paper abstracts will be available on the association’s website beginning with 20th of August.
Conference fees
Participants with presentation
SACR members : 15 Euro (60 RON)
MA students: 20 Euro (80 RON). Note: For the five best MA student abstracts, we will provide a fee waiver.
PhD students: 25 Euro (100 RON). Note: For the best three PhD student abstracts, we will provide a fee waiver.
Researchers and faculty: 25 Euro (100 RON)
Participants without presentation (auditors): 25 RON
Membership fee 2011-2012: 15 Euro (60 RON)
The conference fees will cover the program, coffee breaks and a buffet to be held in the last day of the conference.
For further information, please contact us to the following email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .