‘Writing Biko’ - Lecture by Derek Hook

With the recent publication of Xolela Mangcu’s (2012) biography of Steve Biko, and in light of the proliferating use of Biko’s name as a ‘master-signifier’ in post-apartheid discourse, it becomes possible to plot several versions of the Biko legacy. More important perhaps than an analysis of the various identifications and narrative agendas identifications that emerge in the key biographical accounts of Biko’s life is the question of the relationship between the multiple contemporary versions of Biko. Added to this is the question of how ‘creative non-fiction’ might serve as a methodological resource that aids us in returning to key narrative events in the various accounts of Biko’s life.

Derek Hook is a lecturer in Psychosocial Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London; a visiting associate professor in Psychology at Wits University in South Africa; and an associate lecturer in Social Psychology at the London School of Economics. He is the author of Foucault, Psychology and the Analytics of Power (2007), A Critical Psychology of the Postcolonial (2011) and of the forthcoming (Post)apartheid Conditions (2013). A trainee psychoanalyst at the Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research, Derek is also a lead researcher in the Apartheid Archive Project based at Wits University

Date: 14^th May 2013

Time: 13h00-14h00

Venue: Emthonjeni Auditorium

RSVP: Nomonde.Gogo@wits.ac.za

The 19th South African Psychology Congress Call For Abstracts

Since opening the call for abstracts on the 13th of March, the new PsySSA registration and abstract management systems have been receiving a steady flow of traffic. Early signs that many of the abstracts submitted for review reflect an attempt to think beyond the identities and practices that have historically cleaved therapeutics from science in South African Psychology. Single and co-authored posters and oral presentations provide useful vehicles for disseminating new research and innovative perspectives on bridging this divide. However, charged debate has traditionally been a defining characteristic of symposia and roundtable discussions at previous congresses. This year’s theme encourages widespread participation in these special presentation spaces. A well-conceptualized and populated symposium invites presenters in these forums to step out of their comfort zones in robustly attempting to redefine the possibilities and limits of the relevance of the discipline for the country and the continent.

Please submit your Abstract by 30 April 2013 The website: http://www.psyssa.com/ Please note that the abstract management system will not accept submissions beyond 23h00 (CAT) on Tuesday 30th of April 2013

Community Psychology Conference in Palestine

This international conference 13-15 May 2013 comes as a culmination of the developmental phase of the Masters Program in Community Psychology at Birzeit University. The conference features international representation of, and dialogue between the various paradigms and models of community psychology enacted in the global context, while seeking to facilitate the development of context bound model of critical community psychology for the Arab and Palestinian context. 

Details at: http://www.birzeit.edu/news/23981/news

Conference to be held on 15 to 16 November 2013 at the University of the Witwatersrand: “Discourse, Gender, and Sexuality: South-South Dialogues”

The Department of Linguistics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is pleased to announce a conference to be held on 15-16 November 2013. Entitled “Discourse, Gender, and Sexuality: South-South Dialogues”, the conference aims to bring together scholars from diverse fields of knowledge as well as geographical regions who are interested in showcasing work on any aspect of the relationship between discourse, gender and sexuality in the global South.

Possible thematic areas may include, but are not limited to:

• Gender, sexuality, and the body
• Gender, sexuality and disabilities
• Identity and desire
• Gender, sexuality and power
• Intersections of gender, sexuality, class, race and age
• Gender, sexuality and poverty
• Gender, sexuality and the media
• Gender, sexuality and violence
• Gender, sexuality and multilingualism
• Gender, sexuality and space/place
• Gender, sexuality and social theory

Plenary speakers
Sibonile Ellece (University of Botswana) Michelle Maria Lazar (National University of Singapore) Ana Cristina Ostermann (UNISINOS, Brazil)

Abstract submission
The abstract should be written in English and not exceed 300 words.
Deadline for submissions of abstracts: the abstract should be submitted no later than 15 April to dgswits2013@gmail.com

PsyTalk article on Anene Booysen

The first issue of 2013 of PsyTalk is now available. It contains a thought-provoking article by Juan Nel about the Anene Booysen case, together with many other contributions relating to Social and Community Psychology issues.

South African Sociological Association (SASA) Conference - 30 June to 3 July 2013

Dear all,

As convener for the Lesbian, Gay and Queer Studies-working group of the South African Sociological Association (SASA), it is my pleasure to inform you of this year's annual SASA-conference to by hosted by the Department of Sociology at Unisa, Sunnyside Campus, from Sunday 30 June to Wednesday 3 July 2013. You are invited to submit abstracts for these particular sessions, during which we will discuss challenges faced by sexual minorities in South African society and internationally. 

Congress Theme: Doing Sociology from the periphery: place, power and knowledge

If you are aware of others who may be interested in participating, please forward the information to them.

If you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at 21081719@nwu.ac.za.

Kind regards

Jacques Rothmann

Sociology

School for Social and Government Studies

North West University

South Africa

Third Southern African Students' Psychology Conference: 2013

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS

The psychology departments of University of South Africa and University of the Witwatersrand invite you to the

                                                          2013 Southern African Students' Psychology Conference

With the theme

Psychology (in)action

                                                                                    

 24 – 28 June 2013
University of the Witwatersrand

Johannesburg                                                                         

The Southern African Students’ Psychology Conference is hosted by the psychology departments of the University of South Africa and the University of the Witwatersrand. Students and staff from psychology departments across Southern Africa are invited to join us in this venture. The conference will take place from the 24 – 28 June 2013 at Wits. Pre-conference workshops will be scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, 24 & 25 June 2013.

Students and their academic mentors who are interested in attending and/or presenting at the conference are requested to submit a title and an abstract of not more than 300 words on the conference website before 29 March 2013.                                      

                                                         

The Scientific Programme coordinator

For more details about the conference click here or please visit:

http://www.studentsconference.co.za/