SIN, SHAME, SYMPTOM 2024 : SIN, SHAME, SYMPTOM: SUICIDE AND SOCIAL CHANGE (1850-2000)

Throughout centuries, suicide has had different connotations in different cultural environments. From the historical perspective it is interesting as itreflects values, fears and prejudices of the societies in each period. In the period under consideration those who would commit suicide transformed from criminals and sinners into patients: suicide was decriminalised in accordance with the civilizational norms and moved into the area of social pathology (along with alcoholism, idleness, adolescent unrest,and certain sexual deviations), only to later finally become a choice that enabled people to take the process of dying into their own hands instead of surrendering it to fate or coincidence.

Our research questions include but are not limited to:
- Gender perspectives on suicide
- Scientific, medical, moral and media discourse on suicide
- Social and economic crisis and suicide
- Suicide and literature
- Public perception of suicides: Suicide as an act of rebellion
- Youth suicide vs suicide as a geriatric phenomenon
- The evolution of suicide prevention
- The perceived causes of suicidal behaviour: genetics, alcoholism, progressive degeneration etc.

We welcome scholars at all stages of their academic careers.
Please send a thematic proposal (up to 300 words) and a short CV by March 31 2024 to [email protected]