Children’s Literature and Psychoanalysis
a two-day conference at the University of Hertfordshire
Friday 13th and Saturday 14th April 2007
with
Margaret Rustin (Tavistock Clinic) and Michael Rustin (University of East London) authors of Narratives of Love and Loss: Studies in Modern Children’s Fiction, considering Dr. Who Rosemary Stones, Editor Books for Keeps, practising psychotherapist;
stories with meaning throughout our lives
As the literature written for children becomes increasingly centre-stage in cultural studies, the use that children make of literature in the maturation process and to illustrate their inner worlds is a key aspect of practical and academic interest. This conference offers an opportunity to educators, psychotherapists, scholars, parents and other lovers of children’s literature to meet, consider and debate the issues raised by a psychoanalytical approach to children’s books with the foremost thinkers in the field.
We would welcome proposals for papers – or notes towards a paper - on all aspects of the topic including reading to infants, children’s television and drama, book-related play, fairy stories, myth, story-telling, and fantasy; education, genre and/or author studies, change and innovation in children’s literature, the publishing industry, childhood, and theoretical perspectives.
If you would like to contribute a paper for inclusion at the conference and for consideration for the new University of Hertfordshire Annual of Children’s Literature, please send, by Friday January 26th 2007, an abstract of no more that 250 words to:
Dr. Jenny Plastow
University of Hertfordshire
School of Education
Hatfield
Hertfordshire AL10 9AB
j.j.plastow@herts.ac.uk
t: 01707 285618