International Conference on Literature, Culture and Nation-Building in Twentieth-Century Ireland
To promote the development of the Irish Studies in China, Beijing Foreign Studies University and Irish Embassy in Beijing, under the Memorandum of Understanding between both parties in relation to support to the Beijing Foreign Studies University Irish Studies Centre, will jointly host an international symposium entitled “Literature, Culture and Nation-Building in Twentieth-Century Ireland” on 28 and 29 March 2013, including the launch of a multidisciplinary & interdisciplinary Irish Studies Academic Network in China, and hold the first meeting of the Network to decide how best to strengthen links between Irish Studies Centres and scholars in China.
The conference takes “Literature, Culture and Nation-Building in Twentieth-Century Ireland” as an entry path, covering a wide variety of topics ranging from history of the country reflected in literature to its cultural development in the contemporary world, with an emphasis on the relations between Irish literature and the development of its culture, history, economy and society. The conference will also explore the Irish literature and its reception in China as well as Irish literary and cultural experience for China’s reference.
Subjects to be discussed may include, but are not limited to：
1. Major events in Irish history reflected in Irish literature
2. Irish literature and Irish society (e.g. emigration, feminism)
3. Irish literature and the historical construction of Irishness
4. Irish experience and the theory of literary criticism
5. Irish historical memory and Irish national character
6. Irish social, cultural development and construction of national identity
7. Irish literature and its reception in China
8. Irish literary and cultural experience for China’s reference
Conference programme:
March 28th
8:00-9:00: registration
Morning: opening ceremony & key-note speeches
Afternoon: key-note speeches
March 29th
Morning: paper presentation in panels
Afternoon: closing ceremony;
The first Meeting on Irish Studies Academic Network in China
Scholars (including post-graduates) in China and abroad in relevant fields are all welcome. The working language of the conference is Chinese or English. Irish Ambassador in China, H. E. Mr. Paul Kavanagh will be present and deliver a speech.
Applicants are expected to submit abstracts (approx. 150 English words) and affiliations and contact information in both Chinese and English (for non-Chinese speakers, English version only) via e-mail by February 1st, 2014. Please send them as attachments to wzhanpeng@sina.com
Further Information
Venue:
Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, P.R. China
Organizers’ Mailing Address:
Prof. Wang Zhanpeng,
School of English and International Studies ( SEIS ),
Beijing Foreign Studies University,
No. 2 North Xisanhuan Rd., Haidian District, Beijing, 100089, China.