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Would a hypothetical call for papers on this topic likely concentrate specifically on artistic representations of pleasure in Early Modern visual culture?

I'm trying to gauge if my work on allegorical depictions of 'Delight' in prints would fit, or if the field is moving towards broader studies of sensory experience, materiality, and social practice that go beyond iconography.

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By Suma Answered 1 year ago

While representations would be a central pillar, a contemporary CFP would almost certainly cast a wider net. From my experience reviewing for such themes, editors now actively seek interdisciplinary approaches. Yes, papers on allegorical or narrative depictions of pleasure are welcome, but they often must engage with larger questions. The call would likely encourage work on the material pleasure of objects (like luxurious bindings), the spatial contexts of viewing (cabinets, gardens), and the social performance of pleasure. I would frame your print study not just as iconography, but as an investigation into how visual representations mediated and disciplined the very concept of pleasure for the viewer.

 

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