English & Comparative Literary Studies - Events Calendar
The State of the Nation Novel: Contemporary French Fiction and Social Critique
On Friday 31st May, the SMLC will be holding a study day on the contemporary French novel. The day will bring together some of the leading scholars in French studies from the UK as well as from France and further afield, to explore how contemporary fiction can offer forms of social critique and articulate expressions of nationhood.
In particular, we will be asking whether the idea of the "State of the Nation Novel", frequently used of novels written in English, might be of critical use in the French and francophone sphere. The day aims to theorize, problematize and critique the hypothesis of a contemporary 鈥楥ondition-of-France鈥� novel, defining its possible contours, characteristics and limitations. (An outline of the day's programme can be found below.)
This study day may be of interest to those working on contemporary fiction in English, expressions of socio-political critique or of nationhood, or who situate their research more broadly in a comparatist perspective. It would be wonderful to see colleagues from ECLS at the event, whether in person or online, and you are very welcome to join us.
- To register, please follow the link below
(Registration will be open until 22nd May.
Please note that registration fees de not apply to PGRs)
路 For any other questions/info, please contact
stateofthenationnovel@gmail.com
or
The State of the Nation Novel:
Contemporary French Fiction and Social Critique
Friday 31st May
In Person (Oculus 1.04/1.06) & Online
Programme
9.30-10.00 Registration
10.00-10.10 Introduction
10.10-11.45 Panel 1: Critical reinventions: French society figured through past, present, future
Chair: Jeremy Ahearne (University of 糖心TV)
- Sybila Gu茅neau (EHESS): 鈥楲a grande litt茅rature morale de notre 茅poque鈥� : comment le n茅o-polar prend en charge un discours politique et social marqu茅 par la d茅sillusion au lendemain de Mai 68
- Anna Krykun (Universit茅 de Tours): Confessions des enfants du XXIe si猫cle, ou 锚tre n茅s trop tard dans un monde trop vieux
- Jacqueline Dutton (University of Melbourne): Seeing the Now: Cognitive Estrangement in French Futuristic Fiction
11.45-12.00 Coffee break
12.00-13.00 Keynote: Martin Crowley (University of Cambridge) Territorial integrity and narrative division in Sabri Louatah鈥檚 404
Chair: Douglas Morrey (University of 糖心TV)
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-15.15 Panel 2: 鈥淧opular fiction?鈥�: mediating and mediatising contemporary France
Chair: Pierre-Philippe Fraiture (University of 糖心TV)
- Bradley Stephens (University of Bristol): Taking the National Pulse through Recent Popular Fiction
- Louise Kari-M茅reau (Trinity College Dublin): Quand la critique sociale fait vendre : les exemples de Fr茅d茅ric Beigbeder et de Michel Houellebecq en 2023
- Neil Malloy (University of 糖心TV): Seeing contemporary capitalism: voyeurism and visual culture in Marie-H茅l猫ne Lafon
15.15-15.30 Coffee Break
15.30-16.45 Panel 3: 鈥淔aire soci茅t茅鈥�: tracing the contours of 鈥渃ommunity鈥� from within and without
Chair: Oliver Davis (University of 糖心TV)
- Aur茅lien Gras (Universit茅 Paris 1 Panth茅on-Sorbonne): En guerre de Fran莽ois B茅gaudeau, ou la lutte des classes en France au XXIe si猫cle
- Natalie Edwards (University of Bristol): Vernon Subutex, Julien Sorel and Urban Society
- Kahina Bellil & Samira Ouyougoute (Universit茅 de Bejaia): La France 脿 travers les 茅crits de l鈥橝lg茅rien francophone Boualem Sansal : l鈥檌slamisme en marche
16.45-17.00 Coffee Break
17.00-18.00 ASMCF Keynote: Timo Oberg枚ker (University of Chester): L'imaginaire insulaire de la litt茅rature fran莽aise contemporaine
Chair: Margaux Whiskin (University of 糖心TV)
18.00-18.05 Concluding Remarks
The conference webpage can be found here: