Public Humanities is an international open access, cross-disciplinary, peer-reviewed journal at the intersection of humanities scholarship and public life. The journal invites submissions for the upcoming themed issue Historical Public Humanities, which will be Guest Edited by Dr. Mary Rambaran-Olm. The deadline for complete drafts is July 15, 2024.

Description

Public humanities as a practice pre-dates the rise of the term “public humanities.” Today, history is perhaps the most central—and contested—aspect of public humanities.

What is the pre-history of public humanities? What is public history and how do we reach the public? What, if any responsibilities do we have to share histories with the public? What works and what doesn’t? How has history been white-washed and how do we correct that? These are some of the questions addressed in this themed issue that invites papers from any area of history. This themed issue especially invites work from scholars that challenges white-washed narratives, highlights problems and issues in the field of History, and helps us expand our understanding of the past. Redressing white-washed narratives can be challenging, as the late Stuart Hall once noted in “The Spectacle of the Other,” so this special issue offers an opportunity for scholars to speak to these challenges and address the public at the same time. A compilation of reflections by scholars will explore some of the challenges faced in the field, from white-washing, job insecurity, and gatekeeping to backlash, triumphs, and more.

This is an opportunity to write in your voice, keeping things jargon-free to describe experiences, and expertise without being afraid to use  "I," "we," and "us" or "them." The point of public humanities, as a journal too, is to make our work accessible to the public, so this project allows us to use our voices to share with others in an approachable way.

The editor invites submissions from historians (in the broadest sense of the term from specific periods, geographies, literary studies, etc.) at all levels, and is particularly keen for voices from the Global South, BIPOC, ECR, disability studies, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities.

General Timeline:

• Proposals: (open)
• Complete drafts of articles due: July 15, 2024

Contacts

Guest Editor name: Mary Rambaran-Olm

Email address: publichumanitieshist@gmail.com

Submissions should be written in accessible language for a wide readership across and beyond the humanities. Submissions must be made through the journal's submission site. Articles will be peer reviewed for both content and style. Articles will appear digitally and open access in the journal, which is published by Cambridge University Press.