MCLC: Traumatic Memory--cfp

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Zhang, Yingjin <yinzhang at ucsd.edu>
Subject: Traumatic Memory--cfp
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Call for Papers
 
Traumatic Memory and Cultural Representation: How Literature Writes
History: An International Conference
 
May 25-28, 2013
College of Language and Literature, Capital Normal University, Beijing
 

In the midst of the deafening noise from information explosion and spurred
by a prevailing materialistic and utilitarian urge, contemporary
humanities often find themselves at a loss keeping track of happenings
truly worthy of remembering. Amnesia threatens to break the mirror
reflecting the past human suffering as well as progress, and the gradual
obscuring of the sediments of civilization in memory also undermines the
basis of our human and cultural identity.  Complacent with the pleasures
of the present, we tend to lose sight of ourselves as historical beings
and cannot see far into the future.  As Solzhenitsyn puts it, he becomes
blind who forgets the past.

Literature, in China and elsewhere, has been a vehicle of preserving and
interpreting history against amnesia.  A lot of efforts have been made by
writers, especially since the end of the Second World War, to record in
narrative forms traumatic events haunting the 20th century. However, in
contrast to the West, China has been lagging behind in its contemporary
literature reflecting and representing major events of the recent past in
national life.  What has been accomplished in writing is rather
inadequate, incompatible with the materials of enormous historical
significance.  A comparison of Chinese writing and that of elsewhere can
be illuminating in this regard.
 

The Departments of Modern Chinese Literature, Literary Theory, and
Comparative and World Literature are sponsoring an international
conference entitled “Traumatic Memory and Cultural Representation: How
Literature Writes History.” With a deep appreciation of your literary
scholarship, we hope you may join us at the conference.
 

                  Suggested paper topics include:

・                Theoretical inquiry into the relationship between
literature and traumatic memory
・                Representation of major historical events (especially
wars) of the 20th century in Chinese literature
・                Investigation of the recent rise of fictional accounts of
the Cultural Revolution and the Anti-Rightist Campaign
・                Historical perspective on Taiwanese literature
・                Traumatic memory in memoirs and literary reportage
・                Educated youths in literature, films, and TV series
・                “Red memory” in popular culture
 

                  Participants are responsible for traveling and lodging
expenses.  Other expenses will be covered by the
conference sponsor.  Please respond with an abstract of your paper by
February 28, 2013.
 

Contacts:

 
张志忠 Zhangzhizhong at solcnu.net
陶东风 Dftao1959 at 163.com
林精华 linjinghua at solcnu.net
 
 

Organizer:

The College of Language and Literature at the Capital Normal University,
The Department of Modern Chinese Literature
The Department of Literary Theory
The Department of Comparative and World Literature
The College of Language and Literature Capital Normal University