Department: Department of Literature
Regime Full-time
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The Department of Literature in the Faculty of Arts is looking for a full-time (100%) doctoral position to do research in the field of Theatre and Intermediality.
This doctoral position is a fully-funded four-year BOF DOCPRO project with a research focus on Interdisciplinary Research on Female-Transformed More-than-Humans and their Representations in Japanese Noh Performances. This research aims to explore the unique aspects of Japanese noh theatre by specifically focusing on the representation of female-transformed nonhuman protagonists. By combining feminist and more-than-human perspectives, the project seeks to shed light on the representations’ cultural and historical significance in traditional noh and contemporary noh-influenced performances. This interdisciplinary research investigates the intersection of traditional Japanese noh theatre, more-than-human philosophies, and dramaturgical analyses of contemporary noh-influenced performance with the foundational feminist scope. Through a comprehensive literature review, performance analysis, and comparative study of texts and narratives, the study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the gender politics and more-than-human philosophies at play in these theatrical representations. This research will bring into play the much-needed feminist and more-than-human philosophies, which were, until today, rejected as those theories irrelevant to analyze a vastly feudalistic and man-centric artform of noh plays. The PhD researcher will conduct a three-month fieldwork research trip to Japan, limited by the duration of their visa for European or non-Japanese candidates.
Position
- You will work actively on the preparation and defense of a PhD thesis in the field of theatre and performance studies, analyzing no and no-influenced contemporary performance from more-than-human feminism perspectives.
- You will be supervised by a Japanese contemporary theatre expert and co-supervised by a scholar specializing in more-than-human dramaturgy.
- You will be doing research mainly in Antwerp, although three-month fieldwork research in Japan is included in the project.
- You will publish high-quality peer-reviewed academic articles related to the research project.
- You will organize a postgraduate symposium to share your research outcomes and liaise with early-career scholars with similar research interests.
- You will carry out a limited number of teaching and research support tasks for the Research Centre for Visual Poetics.
- You will be involved in ad-hoc societal activities for the circulation and transmission of the project’s activities and research output.
Profile
- You hold or are about to graduate with a Masters Degree or equivalent in theatre, dance, performance, dramaturgy, interdisciplinary arts, Japanese studies related to culture, or other adjacent fields with a strong interest in feminist theories.
- You have an interest in and scholarly experience with the thematics of the project described above.
- You have obtained above-average study results in your Master’s course.
- You are familiar with ongoing international debates on performance studies and more-than-human philosophies.
- You have enthusiasm for doing international fieldwork research in Japan (remote and in-person) focusing on comparative analysis of traditional Japanese theatres (Noh) and contemporary Japanese performances.
- You can work across various digital platforms (video conferencing, Google Docs, etc.) with an international team of researchers.
- You have professional proficiency in academic English, both in speaking and writing.
- Your proficiency in Japanese is optional but should aim to obtain an intermediate level within the course of the research process.
- Your research qualities align with the faculty and university research policies.
We offer
- We offer a fully-funded doctoral scholarship for a period of two years. The scholarship can be renewed after a positive evaluation for another two years.
- The planned start date is 1 January 2024 or as soon as possible after that date.
- You will receive advice and mentorship from two scholars in the field of theatre and performance studies.
- You will have access to the international network of scholars and artists associated with the Ends: Collaborative Performance Research.
- You will work closely with early to mid-career international researchers involved in Ends: Collaborative Performance Research.
- Your monthly scholarship amount is calculated according to the scholarship amounts for doctoral scholarship holders on the pay scales for Contract Research Staff (Dutch: Bijzonder Academisch Personeel, BAP).
- You will receive ecocheques, an Internet-connectivity allowance, and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
- You will do most of your work at the University of Antwerp’s City Campus in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
- Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here.
Want to apply?
- You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform. The application deadline is 20 September 2023 (by 23:59 CET). Click on the ‘Apply’ button, complete the online application form and include the following attachments: (1) a motivation letter explaining your scholarly interest and experience with the themes of the project, (2 ) an academic CV, (3) transcripts (grades) of your undergraduate and graduate study, (4) a summary of your MA thesis in 1000 words or an academic writing sample of up to 3,000 words, and (5) names and contact details for two academic references.
- The selection committee will review the applications as soon as possible after the deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure. Please make a note of the following dates:
- Deadline for submissions: 20 September 2023 (CET)
- Interviews of shortlisted candidates: 2 – 6 October 2023
- Results: Mid-October 2023
- If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact kyoko.iwaki@uantwerpen.be.
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