ArabAmericas. Literatures without a fixed abobe.

International Conference, Reading and Roundtable organized by Ottmar Ette, Friederike Pannewick, Andreas Pflitsch, and Felicitas Hentschke at the Ethnologisches Museum, Berlin Dahlem.

Research Statement

We will make “Arab-American” literatures the subject of study in all their diversity. Since these literatures have been undergoing significant changes, the work methods, readings and interpretative approaches developed over the years cannot be taken as fixed constants and applied without further questioning. Categories such as “national-” or “world literature” are only effective to a limited degree and in specific contexts. Our goal is to search for adequate intellectual categories, the “in between” and the crossovers of national and world literature. The workshop “ArabAmericas” will seek alternatives amidst transregionally constituted cultures.

This conference takes place in the context of “Cultural Mobility in Near Eastern Literatures“ (a project of the Working Group “Modernity and Islam” at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin).

Program

Conference schedule, part I

Friday, Dec. 3, 2004

9:30-10:30 a.m. | Welcome

Professor Dr. Ottmar Ette/Dr. Friederike Pannewick: Adress of Welcome

Lecture: Professor Dr. Ette: „Literatures without a Fixed Abode. The Challenge of Transregional Studies“

10:30-11:00 a.m.| Coffee break

11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Lecture

Elias Khoury/Lebanon: „Concepts of Immigration in both Americas“
* Commentary: Dr. Anna Akasoy, Professor Dr. Mark Stein

12:30-2:30 p.m.| Lunch break

2:30-3:30 p.m. | Lecture

Alberto Mussa/Brazil: “Who are before the mirror?“
* Moderation: Professor Dr. Roland Spiller

3:30-4:00 p.m.| Coffee break

4:00-5:00 p.m. | Lecture

Verónica Murguía/Mexico: „Mutanabbi”
* Discussion: „The Reception of 1001 Nights in Mexico & Egypt“ with Dr. Samah Selim
* Moderation: Professor Dr. Roland Spiller

Ways of knowledge. Transregional studies.

Friday Evening, Dec. 3, 2004

7:00–9:00 p.m. | Welcome

Professor Dr. Ottmar Ette/Dr. Friederike Pannewick

Rabih Alameddine/ USA
Elias Khoury/ Lebanon
Verónica Murguía/ Mexico
Alberto Mussa/ Brazil

* Moderation: Dr. Berthold Zilly

9:00 p.m. | reception

Location: Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Wallotstr. 19, 14193 Berlin (Großer Kolloquiumraum)

Conference schedule, part II

Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004

10:00-11:30 a.m. | Talk

Rabih Alameddine/USA: Alia Rayyan/Berlin (Bidoun Editor)
* Moderation: Andreas Pflitsch

11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. | Coffee break

12:00-1:00 p.m. | Final Discussion

Reading and Roundtable
* Moderation: Professor Dr. Marianne Braig, Professor Dr. Ottmar Ette, Dr. Friederike Pannewick