[MGSA-L] Conference: Framing the Face, 28 Nov 2015, London

[Roland Moore]

Cross-posted from H-SAE:
Framing the Face
by Jennifer Evans
Your network editor has reposted this from H-Announce. The byline reflects the original authorship.
Type: 
Conference
Date: 
November 28, 2015
Location: 
United Kingdom
Subject Fields: 
History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, Social History / Studies, Women's & Gender History / Studies, Cultural History / Studies
Saturday 28th November, Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London NW1
Over the past five centuries, facial hair has been central to debates about masculinity. Over time, changing views of masculinity, self-fashioning, the body, gender, sexuality and culture have all strongly influenced men’s decisions to wear, or not wear, facial hair. For British Tudor men, beards were a symbol of sexual maturity and prowess. Throughout the early modern period, debates also raged about the place of facial hair within a humoural medical framework. The eighteenth century, by contrast, saw beards as unrefined and uncouth; clean-shaven faces reflected enlightened values of neatness and elegance, and razors were linked to new technologies. Victorians conceived of facial hair in terms of the natural primacy of men, and new models of hirsute manliness. All manner of other factors from religion to celebrity culture have intervened to shape decisions about facial hair and shaving. 
And yet, despite a recent growth in interest in the subject, we still know little about the significance, context and meanings of beards and moustaches through time, or of its relationship to important factors such as medicine and medical practice, technology and shifting models of masculinity. To promote research on this issue we will be hosting a one-day workshop in London. Please see the call for papers for more details.
Programme available here
Registration opens 7 October 2015 here 
Contact Info: 
If you have any queries please contact the event organisers
Dr Jennifer Evans (University of Hertfordshire) j.evans5 at herts.ac.uk
Or
Dr Alun Withey (University of Exeter) A.Withey at exeter.ac.uk
Contact Email: 
j.evans5 at herts.ac.uk
URL: 
https://framingtheface.wordpress.com/programme/