Dr Karen McAulay explores the history of Scottish music collecting, publishing and national identity from the 18th to 20th centuries. Research Fellow at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, author of two Routledge monographs.
Apologies! This has turned out to be quite a week.
I’ve twice woken far too early, notwithstanding leaving the house at 6.45 am to go to Edinburgh. It was still far too early even for that.
I bought a car. I’ve spent hours marking essays (not a normal activity for a former academic librarian-turned-research fellow). I’ve attended live and online seminars, and I’ve continued in my archival explorations. It’s only Thursday night, and I’m knackered.
This is turning into a busy week! Here’s another interesting call for essays, this time from the Women’s Study Group. Picture me, if you will, twirling like a top as I decide which of all these opportunities to turn my attention to first!
Quoting, with permission, from the email that was kindly forwarded to me:-
“The Art and Science of Collecting in Eighteenth-Century Europe
Edited by Dr. Arlene Leis and Dr. Kacie Wills
“We are inviting chapter abstracts for a collection of essays designed for academics, specialists and enthusiasts interested in the interrelations between art, science and collecting in Europe during the long 18th century. Our volume will discuss the topic of art, science and collecting in its broadest sense and in diverse theoretical contexts, such as art historical, feminist, social, gendered, colonial, archival, literary and cultural ones. To accompany our existing contributions, we welcome essays that take a global and material approach, and are particularly keen on research that makes use of new archival resources. We encourage interdisciplinary perspectives and are especially interested in essays that reveal the way in which women participated in art, science, and collecting in some capacity.
“The compendium will consist of around 15 essays, 6000 words each (including footnotes), with up to four illustrations. In addition to these more traditional essays, we are looking for shorter (circa 1,000 words) case studies on material objects pertaining to collections/collectors from that period. The subject of art, science and collecting will also be central to these contributions. These smaller pieces will each include one illustration. The following topics/case studies are particularly desired:
Women’s Collecting Interests
Histories and methodologies of collecting, taxonomies, cataloging, arrangement, and modes of display
Cabinets of curiosities
Catalogues
Collections housed in art and/or science institutions
The boundaries between the natural and the artificial
Scientific and artistic tools and instruments
Seriality vs. Rare objects
Transitional Objects
Conservation
Collecting networks
The artist collector
The scientist collector
The overlapping of art, science and collecting in domestic spaces.
“Essay abstracts of 500 words and 300 word abstracts for smaller case studies are due January 30, 2019 and should be sent along with a short bio to: artsciencecollecting@gmail.com
“Finished case studies will be due July 30, 2019, and due date for long essays will be September 30, 2019.
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 