Spring 2024 Programme
21st February |
Bring a Problem, Present a Text Members of the group are encouraged to bring a short passage from a primary or secondary text that they are working on in their research to get help and feedback from the group, or a methodological, theoretical or any other kind of problem that they are wrestling with that they'd like to workshop. |
6th March |
Democratic Anarchy and the Ends of Politics Matthew Scully (UNIL) I will discuss my forthcoming monograph, Democratic Anarchy: Aesthetics and Political Resistance in U.S. Literature, which draws on a range of American authors from Harriet Jacobs and Nathaniel Hawthorne to Toni Morrison and Ocean Vuong. Following the insights of queer theory, Black Studies, Asian American Studies, political theory, and aesthetic philosophy, the book develops a critique of the many narratives of democracy that in fact possess anti-democratic ends. Literature offers a key resource for such a project because, as I show, both literature and politics depend on acts of representation through which various notions of equality become contested. The talk will conclude with a brief discussion of the process involved in publishing the first book, as well as the questions it opens for future research projects. |
20th March |
Guided Reading: Jonathan Kramnick's Criticism and Truth Patrick Jones (UNIGE) |
19th April |
Leçons d'Epreuve, MER in Contemporary Literature Come, listen and give your feedback on the presentations from shortlisted candidates for this post. PHIL 201 8h30-9h30 Rebecca Duncan, Researcher, Linnaeus AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ Centre for Concurrences in Colonial and Postcolonial Studies/Dept. Of Languages, Linnaeus AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ 9h45-10h45 James Daniel Elam, Assistant Professor, AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ of Hong Kong 11h00-12h00 Katherine Hallemeier, Associate Professor, Department of English, Oklahoma State AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ 13h00-14h00 Graham Riach, Lecturer in English Literature and Media, AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ of Amsterdam |
24th April |
Work in Progress Elodie Rogliardo (UNIL): "Afropean Identity in the Wake: Alternative Consciousness in Contemporary France" Nora Zufferey (UNIGE): "‘Infrasonic Tremors and Sonic Booms: Low-Frequential Poetics in Jayne Cortez and Jean Binta Breeze". 17h-19h. Note later time. |
25th April |
Literature and Climate Change Dr Pippa Marland (AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ of Bristol): "New Georgics: the Resurgence of Farming in 21st Century British Nature Writing." Prof Stef Craps (AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ of Ghent): “Remembering Earth: Countering Planetary Amnesia through the Creative Arts." 4:15h, Anthropole, UNIL, room 5196. |
7th May |
Kathleen Jamie: Conversations Towards Nature 17:15, Geopolis Building, room 2227, at the AV¶ÌÊÓÆµ of Lausanne Free admission, no registration necessary. There will be a bookstall and Q&A afterwards. |
8th May |
Kathleen Jamie: Conversations Towards Nature 18:30 Apéro, Reading at 19-20:00, Société de Lecture, Grand Rue 11, 1204, Geneva Admission to buffet and reading: students, 5 CHF; members, 20 CHF; non-members, 30 CHF. The reading will be followed by a moderated conversation, and Q&A with the poet. No advance registration needed. |
17th May |
Colloque: On Leer A celebration of Martin Leer as teacher, thinker and colleague, with special guests. PHIL 201 10h Introductory remarks 10.15h "No Man Can Live This Life and Emerge Unchanged: King Leer, Postcolonial Studies, Ecocriticism, Desert Humanities" 11.15h “A Perfect Interchange of Perceptions” 12.15-14h Lunch 14h Round Table Discussion (1) 16h Round Table Discussion (2) 18h Leçon d’Adieu 19h Musical Interlude 20h Dinner |