Fatigue in a Virtual Conference—Ninth Day of an Academic Conference in 2020
My first two sessions have been assigned to me as SBLAAR20 Tech Assist. I am pleased to say that participating in an assortment of sessions that I might not otherwise have been aware of has been an excellent experience. In addition, I have so far been exposed to groups and topics that demonstrate a great diversity in scholarship and interest.
Regardless of the brief excitement, I encountered in discovering another book recommendation, The Soul of the Stranger: Reading God and Torah from a Transgender Perspective (HBI Series on Jewish Women), and exposure to some new possibilities in reading Song of Songs, I am fatigued. In the final days of this conference, I find I need a vacation.
About this event
Society of Biblical Literature/American Academy of Religion (SBLAAR) is an Annual Academic Conference that extends Nationally, Internationally, and Regionally. This is the first year it is running online as a virtual conference. Usually, it is held in a large metropolitan city in the United States. Read about #SBLAAR presentations. Also, read about other academic conferences.
Dr. Erica Mongé-Greer, holding a PhD in Divinity from the University of Aberdeen, is a distinguished researcher and educator specializing in Biblical Ethics, Mythopoeia, and Resistance Theory. Her work focuses on justice in ancient religious texts, notably reinterpreting Psalm 82’s ethics in the Hebrew Bible, with her findings currently under peer review.
In addition to her academic research, Dr. Mongé-Greer is an experienced University instructor, having taught various biblical studies courses. Her teaching philosophy integrates theoretical discussions with practical insights, promoting an inclusive and dynamic learning environment.
Her ongoing projects include a book on religious themes in the series Battlestar Galactica and further research in biblical ethics, showcasing her dedication to interdisciplinary studies that blend religion with contemporary issues.
I’m interested in what you learned in the Song of Songs section!
The presenter had not prepared a full paper, but presented ideas about reading Song of Songs unbound by heteronormative gender presumptions. I believe that the proposed reading would fit nicely with some rabbinical commentary on SoS representing a relationship between God and Israel. I hope it gets developed into a paper. I think reading Hebrew poetry should inspire creativity and diversity of thought.