A Persian man posing for a photograph – a truck with British troops is in the background (© IWM Q 73032)

Call for papers: ‘Beyond the Western Front – The Global First World War’

The Centre for Hidden Histories in the UK is seeking contributions for a 2016 conference and community event, entitled Beyond the Western Front:The Global First World War.

The aim is to examine different understandings of the war and provide a broader cosmopolitan context in which to place the British First World War orthodoxy’.

Organisers say: “We seek representation from a variety of national, faith and other emerging communities whose histories are rarely considered, and for whom the traditional Armistice Day celebrations may have strikingly different meanings.”

Submissions should be made by January 29th 2016. Full details can be found on the Centre for Hidden Histories website. Informal inquiries are welcome.

Themes

Themes will be explored through a combination of academic papers, workshops and creative performances.

They include the roles of African and Asian troops and the important contribution of labour; the revolutionary impact of the war; the challenges faced by men women and children after the peace; and different cultures of remembrance across national, ethnic and social groups.

The Centre for Hidden Histories is part of a UK initiative by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), aimed ‘to engage with and support communities as they seek to commemorate and reflect upon the century-long legacy of the First World War.’

The conference will be held in Nottingham on July 1st/2nd 2016, coinciding with the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

Source: The Centre for Hidden Histories

Images courtesy of Imperial War Museums (© IWM Q 73032)

Posted by: CN Deputy Editor