Perspectives on Contemporary Legend

International Society for Contemporary Legend Research

36th International Conference

Brussels, Belgium

Tuesday, June 5 – Saturday, June 9, 2018

 

The International Society for Contemporary Legend Research is pleased to announce that the 2018 Perspectives on Contemporary Legend International Conference will be held in June 5 – 9, in the capital city of Brussels, Belgium.

As is ISCLR’s custom, the 36th Perspectives on Contemporary Legend meeting will be organized as a series of seminars at which the majority of attendees will present papers. Concurrent sessions will be avoided so that all attendants can hear all papers.   Presentations will be 20 minutes with an additional 10 minutes for discussion.  Proposals for papers on all aspects of contemporary, urban, or modern legend research are sought, as are those on any legend-like tradition (rumor, conspiracy theories, fake news, etc.) that circulate actively at present or have circulated at an earlier historical period.  Proposals for special panels, discussion sessions and other related events are encouraged.

To submit a proposal, please forward a title and abstract (250-300 words) by February 1, 2018 by e-mail (aurore.vandewinkel@uclouvain.be) to the organizer:

Dr. Aurore Van de Winkel

Scientific Collaborator of the Language & Communication Institute

Université Catholique de Louvain

14, Ruelle de la Lanterne Magique

1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Brussels is an amazing multicultural city of over two million inhabitants speaking mostly French, Dutch or English. Described by Victor Hugo, as “the most beautiful grand place of the world,” Brussels boasts architecture ranging from gothic and baroque to art noveau (townhouses designed by Victor Horta), art deco, and postmodern, including sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.  With old neighborhoods and new, Brussels houses both European government buildings and major, wonderful museums, such as the Magritte Museum, the Old Masters Museum and the Millenium Iconoclast Museum of Art, and is, of course, home to the legendary statue of Manneken Pis.  Come and taste our chocolate, beer, French fries, Dutch meat stew, mussels, waffels, and a wide variety of other special foods.  Legends, both traditional and contemporary, abound throughout the city, making Brussels the perfect town to hold this conference.  For more information on the places to see, please visit the website http://www.visitbrussels.be : https://visit.brussels/en/article/brussels-in-figures
and https://visit.brussels/en/lists/top-20
or look at the pictures of the town on the Instagram account : @brusselsurbanlegends.

During the Conference, we will have many opportunities to explore some of the fabulous sites of Belgium, including an optional day-long excursion to the fantastic old city of Bruges, as well as organized visits in Brussels to such places as an old cemetery, beer and chocolate museums, and even into the sewers.

Travel information

Location:

IHECS – 58-60, Rue de l’Étuve – 1000 Brussels.

Brussels is in the heart of Belgium, at the western edge of Europe, with the country’s major cities—Bruges, Antwerp, Gent, Liège, and Namur—all within 50-100 km (35-60 miles).

Currency:  The Euro (€).  €1 is approximately US$1,20, CAN$1,50 or £0,90.

Official documents:  Europeans need only an ID card; citizens of other places need a valid passport.  In most cases, visas are not necessary for stays under 90 days.

Arrival: Brussels is easily accessible by plane, train or car.

– By plane: The closest airport is the National Brussels Airport of Zaventem (BRU). https://www.brusselsairport.be/en

The Airport is directly connected to Brussels, to Bruxelles-Midi or Bruxelles–Central.  The trip from the airport may be done by train (20 minutes, €8,80), STIB Express Airport Bus (30 minutes, €4,50), or taxi (€45).

– By train: The international trains stop at Bruxelles-midi train station only.

– By car: From the East use the E40; from the North use the E19, and from the South use either the E19 or the E411.

Mobility in Brussels :  The STIB provides  good and frequent public transportation by bus, tramway or metro. 1 ticket (€2,10) is valid for 1 hour on all three forms.

Accommodation: There are a lot of good hotels for different budgets near the Conference, in the center of the town.  Instructions will follow.

Information about the hotels and excursion will be sent out in a second circular and on the website: http://www.contemporarylegend.org.  Registration information and fees will be sent out on March 1.

We look forward to welcoming you to this conference reuniting the researchers who work on this ever current subject!