Events
Authors' readings
In line with ASNEL tradition, the conference will also host a number of readings by poets and fictions writers. Most of this year's readings will be part of the Wasafiri Evening on Thursday, 21 May, when we have the pleasure to welcome the writers Bernardine Evaristo (UK), Samir El-Youssef (Palestine) and Tomáš Zmeškal (Czech Republic). Bernardine Evaristo was born in London to an English mother and Nigerian father. She has fused poetry with fiction in two novels-in-verse, Lara (1997, 2009) and The Emperor’s Babe (2001) as well as a novel-with-verse, Soul Tourist (2005). She co-edited, with Maggie Gee, the Granta/British Council anthology NW15 in 2007. Her latest novel, Blonde Roots (2008), is an imaginative reversal of the transatlantic slave trade. Find her online: http://www.bevaristo.net/ and http://bevaristo.wordpress.com/
Samir El-youssef was born in Rashidia, a Palestinian refugee camp in South Lebanon, and has been living in London since 1990. He is the author of six books including novels, short stories and essays; he writes in Arabic and English. His novel The Illusion of Return (2007) has received wide acclaim; his collection of stories Gaza Blues (2004), co-authored with Israeli writer Etgar Keret, has been translated into several languages. Find him online: http://www.independent.co.uk
/arts-entertainment/books/features/samir-elyoussef-at-home-with-the-heretic-432650.html
Tomáš Zmeškal was born in Prague of Czech-Congolese parentage, and published his writing in numerous samizdat publications in the mid-1980s. In 1987 he moved to London where, among other things, he studied English Literature. In 1999 he moved back to Prague, where he works as a translator and English teacher. His first novel Milostny dopis klinovym pismem (Love Letter in Cuneiform Script) has just been published. Find him online: http://www.tomaszmeskal.cz/english.htm
The Wasafiri Evening will take place at Fürstenberghaus, Domplatz 20-22, room F 1 (1st floor), starting at 19:00.
On Saturday, 23 May, Indian writer and scholar Sridhar Rajeswaran will read from his literary work. He is Professor and Head of the Department of English at K.S.K.V. University of Kachchh, Bhuj, India. His areas of scholarly interest are the poetry of W.B. Yeats and the Irish Women Revolutionaries, Modern Indian Drama in English, Tamil Cinema and Race-Class-Caste-Gender Issues. His first collection of poetry was published in 2008. His plays have been broadcast on the All India Radio and also appeared in book form in 2008. This reading will take place from 12:00 to 12.30, in room F 5 (2nd floor) of Fürstenberghaus, Domplatz 20-22.
Both events are public; admission is free of charge.
Round tables
The conference programme will comprise three round tables.The Wasafiri round table: "Clearing New Spaces" (Thursday, 19:00 room F 1) is part of the Wasafiri Evening which marks the 25th birthday of Wasafiri: The Magazine of International Contemporary Writing. At the round table, guest editors of Wasafiri special issues, Suman Gupta, Bryan Cheyette and Bernardine Evaristo will discuss the reasons behind the special issues they created, and reflect on how to forge new connections in Chinese, Jewish/Postcolonial, African-European and Black British writing. The discussion is to be chaired by the founding editor of the magazine, Susheila Nasta. The round table will be followed by authors' readings.
Our second round table discusses "The institutionalisation of postcolonial studies" (Friday, 15:30). Speakers include Ien Ang (University of Western Sydney), Nilufer Bharucha (Universities of Mumbai and Münster), Pilar Cuder-Dominguez (University of Huelva), Geoffrey V. Davis (RWTH Aachen), Abioseh M. Porter (Drexel University, Philadelphia), Wumi Raji (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife) and Janet Wilson (University of Northampton). The discussion will be chaired by Frank Schulze-Engler (Frankfurt University).
The third round table "20 years on: GNEL/ASNEL and its institutional locations" (Saturday, 15:30) marks the 20th anniversary of the foundation of GNEL/ASNEL and reflects on past, present and future developments. Speakers include Chris Balme (LMU Munich), Kerstin Knopf (Greifswald University), Claudia Perner (U Duisburg-Essen), Dieter Riemenschneider (Frankfurt University), Peter Schneck (Osnabrück University), Klaus Stierstorfer (Münster University) and Gerhard Stilz (Tübingen University). The round table will be chaired by Tobias Döring (LMU Munich).
Panel discussions
There will be two panel discussions:The first of these, "Theory and methods of teaching postcolonial literatures in secondary schools" (Friday 10:45), is part of the school teaching forum which forms a traditional part of ASNEL conferences. The one-day school teaching forum is open to all conference participants, but is also targeted more especially at school teachers, students aiming to become school teachers, and academics involved in teacher training. The panel discussion focuses on general theoretical and methodological issues related to teaching postcolonial literatures and cultures in schools. Speakers include Gisela Feurle, Jörg Heinke, Frank Schulze-Engler, Roy Sommer, Silke Stroh, and Laurenz Volkmann. The discussion will be chaired by Susanne Reichl.
The conference's second panel discussion "Translocating postcolonial studies: Interdisciplinary developments" (Saturday, 10:30) continues earlier ASNEL initiatives to strengthen interdisciplinary dialogue in Postcolonial Studies (e.g. concerning Celtic or Jewish Studies). This year's panel discussion focuses on Medieval Studies, Visual Studies, History, German Studies, Japanese Studies, Middle Eastern Studies and Eastern European Studies. Speakers include Diana Brydon (University of Manitoba), Jessica Hemmings (Edinburgh College of Art), Eva Bischoff (University of Cologne), Michiko Mae (Düsseldorf University), Ananya Jahanara Kabir (University of Leeds), Markus Schmitz and Alfred Sproede (both Münster University). The session is chaired by Christine Vogt-William (Emory University, Atlanta) and Silke Stroh (Münster University).
ASNEL Anniversary Exhibition
The year 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the foundation of ASNEL, as well as its 20th annual conference. Thus, this year's conference also hosts an ASNEL Anniversary Exhibition on previous activities, such as conferences, yearbooks and summer schools. A display of posters, photographs, programmes, and books will bring ASNEL history to life. Important early conferences and publications that have led up to the foundation of ASNEL are likewise represented. The exhibition is curated by Ursula Kluwick, Claudia Perner and Frank Schulze-Engler, and will be shown in the 1st floor foyer of Fürstenberghaus (Domplatz 20-22).
Conference warming
The conference warming will take place on Wednesday, 20 May, at Brauhaus Pinkus (Kreuzstr. 4, www.pinkus-mueller.de), from 19:00 onwards.
Conference dinner
The conference dinner will take on Saturday night. Please pick up your dinner ticket at the conference office as soon as possible after your arrival.
