Literary Explorations: Where Do Words Take You?

FEBRUARY 23RD AND 24TH, 2018

LITERARY EXPLORATIONS: WHERE DO WORDS TAKE YOU? 

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Dr. Francoise LIONNET (Harvard University)

Dr. Lawrence Kritzman (Dartmouth College) 

It is our pleasure to invite you to the 12th annual graduate student conference, organized by the Department of French Studies Graduate Student Association at Louisiana State University, taking place in Baton Rouge, LA, on February 23rd and 24th, 2018.

The theme of the 12th annual graduate student conference is “Literary Explorations: where will words take you?”

Throughout centuries and genres, authors have used literature as a means to transport their readers to a variety of temporal and spatial destinations. These written excursions have inspired people to travel, or imagine places that they cannot physically explore. Jules Verne is just one example of an author who took his readers around the world, down to the center of the Earth and to the farthest reaches of outer space. We are interested in the ways travelling has shaped minds; how it has influenced both the reader and the writer. We are also intrigued by how travel narratives have shaped and influenced the real world (major discoveries, evolution of geography, inventions...) The aim of this conference is to study these adventures as they appear in French and francophone literature.

Topics could include but are not limited to:

• Wanderlust
• Literary vessels
• Pilgrimages
• Expeditions
• Vagabondage
• Discoveries
• Odysseys 

“Ah! Young people, travel if you can, and if you cannot – travel all the same!” 

- Jules Vernes - 

We accept abstracts of 150-200 hundred words. Abstracts should be accompanied by a short biographical note, including university affiliation and area of study. Presentations should be between 15 and 20 minutes long. DEADLINE: January 5, 2018 

To submit a proposal or for more information, contact: [email protected]