Caribbean Intransit Journal
Call For Papers for Issue 3
Deadline: 30 November 2011

Details from the CFP:

“The arts is a form of action,” wrote Caribbean intellectual and choreographer Rex Nettleford. As action, the arts can be an effort inclined toward a pursuit of social change. The arts can be political acts. The arts can liberate ways of being and refashion ways of thinking in our world. The arts can be used to transform communities and transfigure societies. Michael Manley, who served as Prime Minister of Jamaica for eleven years, understood this as Jamaica turned towards a project of independence and decolonisation. According to Manley, “art, in the widest sense of painting, sculpture, poetry, drama, literature, the theatre, music, dancing and the rest, [is] an indispensable element in the process of transformation…exposure to art must be planned.” This idea of art as planned action for change or a strategy for revolution was also grasped by those like Argentine film directors Fernando Solanas and Octavio Getino as well as Cuban filmmakers Julio García Espinosa and Tomás Gutiérrez Alea who regarded art – particularly film or cinema – as a mode of subversive action and an instrument of social transformation. Through concepts and movements like “Third Cinema,” “Imperfect Cinema” and “Cine Liberación,” film was soon seen as a mobilising force and a “guide for action.” The work of Trinidadian artist/dancer Beryl McBurnie also transformed the way in which people saw themselves in relation to their African heritage. Her work with the Little Carib Theatre in Trinidad helped move folk traditions from the social margins to a centre stage position in various communities. Art, then, can be a powerful means to take action. Are we taking advantage of art’s capacity for social change in the new millennium? How is the transformative potential of art being deployed in our contemporary world?

This issue understands art in its broadest sense. It aims to put a spotlight on the teleology of art – specifically art with a purpose of critiquing assumptions, challenging the status quo, revamping hearts and minds and ameliorating social systems. We invite critical dialogues about the work art accomplishes in the interest of public good; dialogues about art functioning at the intersection of creativity and justice, imagination and metamorphosis. Submissions are welcome but not limited to the following themes:

Art and human rights

Art as activism

Art as liberation

Art and community

Art and resistance

The artist as agent of social change

Art in times of crisis

Art and spiritual transformation

Art and utopian imaginings

Art in education

We welcome 4000-5000 word essays in English. Artwork, music, dance, poetry, mas or junkanoo designs or any other artistic expression with blurbs in English, French, Spanish, Dutch, dialect or creole are welcome as well as films in any language with subtitles in English. Fiction or non-fiction writings in English or dialects will be accepted. Writings in dialect should be accompanied by a translation of terms. Research papers on visual or vocal modes of expression as well as interviews of contemporary artists in English are also welcome. Please send submissions to submissions@caribbeanintransit.com. Questions may be sent to info@caribbeanintransit.com Deadline for submissions is November 30th 2011.

All visuals should be sent in jpg format. Please contact us for information on acceptable film formats.
Please see our Sumbission Guidelines on our Home Page and under the Issues menu

Guest Editor: Dr. Marta Vega

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