BSA honorary associate Michael Bogdanov headlines a distinguished line-up of speakers at the

New Elizabethans 1953-2013: Nation, Culture, and Modern Identity conference

Senate House, London, 13th-15th June 2013

Full details of the conference are available at: http://www.ies.sas.ac.uk/events/ies-conferences/NewElizabethans

In the years surrounding the Coronation of Elizabeth II, British political and cultural life was suffused with a language that both prophesized and idealized the potential for a new Elizabethan era. The self-styled new Elizabethans identified an innate national character in the accomplishments of a vanished age. This age was apparently manifest in ‘Shakespearean’ music, theatre, and poetry -- and characterized by imperial expansion and exploration, a clear sense of social hierarchy, a fierce and heroic spirit of patriotic individualism, and the brave resistance of a mighty little people to larger invading forces.

Papers are invited from a variety of critical and disciplinary perspectives. We particularly encourage contributions from those working in history, literature, politics, religion, music, theatre, film and television, cultural studies, sport, design, and visual art. Ideally, papers will engage with such informing themes as nostalgia, patriotism, heritage, progress, tradition, national character, and/or nation itself.

Proposals (max. 250 words) for papers of 20 minutes should be sent to the conference organizer, Dr Irene Morra (Cardiff University), at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 15 February 2013. Late submissions will be considered.