Studying East of Byzantium VII: In Conversation with Anti-racism, Pandemic, and Social Inequality, Virtual (with possible live final event at Tufts University, Medford, MA), November 20, 2020, February 26, 2021, June 3–4, 2021

Respondents: Zsuzsanna Gulácsi, Professor of Asian Religious Art, Department of Comparative Cultural Studies, Northern Arizona University, and Sergio La Porta, Haig and Isabel Berberian Professor of Armenian Studies and Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities, California State University, Fresno

A three-part workshop that intends to bring together doctoral students studying the Christian East to discuss how the events of 2020—from the intensified conservations about systemic racism and economic inequality stemming acts of police violence on Black men and women in the United States to the dramatic changes to life and work brought about by the coronavirus pandemic—have impacted their research with a diverse group of colleagues and senior specialists in the field. 

We invite doctoral students working in any discipline of East Christian studies to discuss how they addresses issues of identity, race, and injustice in their research projects, how they may have adjusted their research questions or methodological approaches in response to the events of 2020, and how they have adapted their research plans (particularly the use of digital tools) to address pandemic strictures. 

Participation is limited to 10 students. Those interested in attending should submit a C.V. and 200-word abstract no later than Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

This workshop is part of the Studying East of Byzantium workshop series. EAST OF BYZANTIUM is a partnership between the Arthur H. Dadian and Ara Oztemel Chair of Armenian Art at Tufts University and the Mary Jaharis Center that explores the cultures of the eastern frontier of the Byzantine empire in the late antique and medieval periods.