An event is a singularity that interrupts the habitual routines, breaks existing rules and creates the possibility for the reorganisation of the symbolic space. Events evoke trauma, but also open up the potentiality for change. Recent past is rife with intense and transformative events that release a variety of affective responses and reveal hitherto suppressed social tensions. The present seminar seeks to develop an interdisciplinary discussion around the linguistic, narrative, and semiotic mediation and construction of the event in literature, arts, and public discourse. The invited speakers focus on death, natural disasters, 9/11 literature and cognitive approaches to the event.

We invite PhD and Master’s students to reflect on and discuss the concept of the event proceeding from their own research materials and comparing them to the perspectives of the invited speakers.

In order to receive credit points , you have to register into one of the thematic workshops.

The listed texts are recommended preparatory reading for the seminar. Specific instructions about the readings and access to them will be given to students after registration.

Registration will take place online until February 3rd 2017.
Contact person: Liis Tamm (liis.tamm@ut.ee)
Invited speakers:

Prof. Luc Herman, University of Antwerp (Belgium).
“Skirting the Event: Evocations of 9/11 in the Work of Thomas Pynchon
Dr. Karin Kukkonen, University of Oslo (Norway).
“Reading Literary Narrative: Event and Experience”
Prof. Françoise Lavocat, University of Paris III – Sorbonne-Nouvelle (France).
“Event and Natural Catstrophes: Construction and Deconstruction
Prof. Stéphane Lojkine, Aix-Marseille University (France).
“History After History: From Specters of Marx to the Gift of Death

Organisers:
Tanel Lepsoo, Department of Romance Studies, College of Foreign Languages and Cultures
Marina Grišakova, Department of Literature and Theatre Research, Institute of Cultural Research and Arts
Raili Marling, Department of English Studies, College of Foreign Languages and Cultures
This intensive seminar is organised by the Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts, financed by the University of Tartu’s ASTRA project PER ASPERA, and the Centre of Excellence in Estonian Studies (European Regional Development Fund) and is related to research project PUT1481 (Estonian Research Council, ETAG) as well as the baseline financing project PHVLC16936 (Estonian Ministry of Education and Research) of the University of Tartu.