Call for papers
International Conference
“What is Postcolonial Thought?”
University of the Antilles
Schoelcher Campus
Martinique
November 2015
Alexandre Alaric, Associate Professor of French and Francophone studies is organizing, in collaboration with Dominique Aurelia Associate Professor of English, Rodolphe Solbiac Associate Professor of English, Olivier Pulvar,Associate Professor in Communication Studies, an international conference entitled “What is Postcolonial Thought?,” _et for November 4-6, 2015 at the University of the Antilles Campus of Schoelcher Martinique, FWI.
The first objective of this conference is to prepare the launching and the effectuation of two new projects, The Postcolonial French and Francophone Letters of the Americas project (for the refounding of French and Francophone Studies at the UA) and The Frantz Fanon Institute of Postcolonial Studies of the University of the Antilles.
Though they are two distinct projects, The Postcolonial French and Francophone Letters of the Americas and the Frantz Fanon Institute of Postcolonial Studies of the University of the Antilles are backed by the idea that there is a need to introduce the postcolonial in the curriculum of the University of the Antilles and that is could be at center of a multidisciplinary platform.
Accordingly the form and presentation of this conference reflects a preoccupation for a multidisciplinary approach of contemporary forms of knowledge and merge the capabilities of searchers belonging to the University of the Antilles or coming from other universities for the advancement of this project. Thus its objective is quite easily identifiable: enhancing the international profile of the UA, through the creation of clusters of teaching and research programs that will help develop its visibility and distinctive character.
Therefore, this conference seeks to prepare a new reception of research in postcolonial studies in the field of French and French Caribbean scholarship. In fact, as the postcolonial appeared and developed in relation to such spaces as Great Britain, Australia, India, Africa, the Anglophone Caribbean and the United States, and has been studied through Anglo-Saxon, as well as Anglophone Caribbean approaches, it has been insufficiently interrogated in France and the Francophone Caribbean.
What can be the meanings of a Postcolonial thought? What type of categories is it relevant to regarding such categories as modernity, postmodernity or the contemporary? How does it compare to the thoughts of globalization, of creolization, and to other new forms of political and cultural anthropologies? What can postcolonial thought point to in a conversation with the emergence of “new psychic structures”? In what way does it contribute to the understanding of new symbolicities, of new forms of suffering and enjoyment? How does it illuminate the way discourses are articulated through new forms of creative movement, the new discursive postures and correspondingly the practices and creations in the field of lively scenes? In what way can postcolonial thought help us grasp new forms of political practices and of political thought?
In what way can postcolonial thought be related to anti-colonial and anti-imperialist fights?
In addition, and concerning in a more direct way literary and arts studies,
What benefit can we derive from the articulation of contemporary issues in dramaturgy, poetology and translation studies using the postcolonial stance?
What can be the postcolonial contribution to the paradigm of Contemporary Art?
At last, can the new paradigms in Information and Communication studies bring to this field?
It is quite obvious now that postcolonial though engages with many issues and presents us with many perspectives for the better understanding of our contemporary world.
Therefore, the purpose of this conference is to initiate a debate on these questions in order to tackle the issue of how to teach together in the future University of the Antilles. The objective of this conference is to work for the establishment of a Caribbean platform of postcolonial studies at the University of the Antilles founded on its networking with French universities, Caribbean universities and other universities which seek to interrogate postcolonial thought, in order to promote research as well as teachers and students exchanges.
Consequently, one of the major goals of this conference is to prepare the launching of Postcolonial Studies of the University of the Antilles designed as an instrument for the establishment of this Caribbean platform of postcolonial studies and the promotion of the international visibility of the University of the Antilles. This conference also seeks to bring a contribution to the development of “Francophonie.”
The deadline for the submission of abstracts is March, 1st of 2015.
Abstracts should be sent to :
Alexandre Alaric MCF HDR
Dominique Aurélia MCF
Patricia Donatien MCF HDR
patricia.donatien-yssa@wanadoo.fr
Olivier Pulvar MCF.
Rodolphe Solbiac MCF
Rodolphe.Solbiac@martinique.univ-ag.frCall for Papers
Repeating Islands 