CONFERENCE 2015. CALL FOR PROPOSALS.pdf
INTERNATIONAL C-RICEFM SYMPOSIUM, York University
in collaboration with Bar-Ilan University
CALL FOR PAPERS
RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE IN FRANCOPHONE MIGRANT LITERATURE IN CANADA
Brief Summary: This symposium intends to probe the various manifestations of resistance and resilience expressed in Francophone migrant literary writing at a time when changes due to globalization and interculturalism (open pluralistic societies) occur at lightning speed.
Theme: Studies on the diachronic and / or synchronic resistance and resilience in Francophone migrant literary writing in Canada. The theme includes Literary approaches and inter- or multidisciplinary approaches (linguistics, history, sociology, psychology, etc.).
Lelia Young (York University), Simone Grossman (Bar-Ilan University) and Danielle Schaub (Oranim Academic College) are organizing under the auspices of C- RICEFM ( http://c-ricefm.laps.yorku.ca) a symposium involving the problems posed by acts of resistance and resilience in Francophone Canadian migrant literature, issues related to themes which today occupy an important place in Francophone diversity. Resistance through the creative act is a fundamental driving force of identity assertion that allows to counter adversity by securing new aspirations, new writing and a glimpse of the future in a consistent fashion. Resilience, the instigator of survival strategies and transformation is a phase that can follow closely or from afar the act of resistance so as to give life to new aspirations and other envisaged forms. Resilience allows to consider "A Wonderful Misfortune" (oxymoronic title of a book by Boris Cyrulnik) and overcome various obstacles so as to live differently, "Otherwise, but the Same" to borrow the title of a suggestive book by Marguerite Andersen. Resilience ensures that any failure is absorbed in a controlled manner, avoiding multiple forms of chaos and allowing the recovery of social discourse and its functions. Migrant literature in minority contexts leads us to notice various writing strategies that are relevant to the theme of the conference (Simon Harel, "Les passages obliges de l’écriture migrante"; François Paré, "Les Littératures de l’exiguïté", " La distance habitée", Jean-Pierre Bertrand et Lise Gauvin, "Littératures mineures en langue majeure"). How do migrant writers express their resistance and/or resilience in their writing, and how central are these concepts in their work compared to other themes? The conference will be structured around the following areas:
- Resistance and resilience in a minority context in Francophone migrant literature in Canada;
- Links existing “between the self and social groups or categories of belonging” (Kauffman, 2004) in migrant francophone literature in Canada;
- Building a migrant literature in a minority environment with turning points in bilingual diglossia;
- Turning points in the history of Francophone migrant literature in Canada with respect to resistance and resilience; spatiotemporal impacts and role of Francophone literature in the Canadian diaspora (for example, as illustrated in the writings of Régine Robin, Didier Leclair, Aristote Kavungu, Hédi Bouraoui, Naim Kattan, Lélia Young, Marguerite Andersen, Angèle Bassolé-Ouédraogo, Gérard Étienne, Dany Laferrière, etc.);
- Migrants/ the exiled and globalization: resistance and resilience as transformative forces in context of “exiguity” in Francophone literature in Canada;
- The concept of distance in migrant Francophone literature in Canada.
Proposals for papers should be sent before June 15, 2015 by e-mail attachment with the title and an anonymous one-page abstract (250 words) followed by a brief bibliography. There should be a separate attachment with the title of the paper as well as contact information (name, affiliation, email address, phone number). Proposals should be sent to all of the following e-mail addresses:
Conference: bellai_@rogers.com, Lelia Young (York University, C-RICEFM): cricefm@yorku.ca, Simone Grossman (Bar-Ilan University): simonegrossman00@gmail.com, Danielle Schaub (Oranim College): dschaub@research.haifa.ac.il
