|
Since its founding in Beijing, IABA has placed considerable emphasis on auto/biography in a world republic of letters. It has inspired members to examine theoretical assumptions pertaining to representations of the self in different cultural and social contexts across the globe. And it has promoted the understanding of similarities and differences in narrative identity practices by comparing and contrasting examples of such practices from different parts of the world. This concern is also reflected in the growing number of publications that examine auto/biographical practices outside Europe and that explore these practices in a global context. The panel on narrative identities in a world republic of letters seeks to further this line of inquiry within the European chapter of IABA.
It invites panelists to explore ways in which scholarship on auto/biography within Europe can contribute to the constitution of a world republic of life narrative. It embarks on the possibly paradoxical task of asking Europeans to consider ways in which they can contribute to the provincialisation of Europe regarding the theory and practice of auto/biography. And it seeks to advance exchanges about theories and practices with auto/biographical traditions outside Europe. Short papers (15min) that generate discussion on these and related concerns are invited. Papers that focus on a theoretical point and illustrate this with an example will be preferred. Possible topics could include:
• To what extent can the notion of a world republic of letters be fruitfully applied to narrative identity practices across the globe?
• What are promising theoretical paradigms for studying auto/biography as a form of world literature?
• What are the interconnections between auto/biography and globalisation?
• How do auto/biographical practices and research in Europe relate to such practices and research elsewhere?
Please submit abstracts (300 words) for this panel with a short biographical profile to Stephan.Meyer@unibas.ch and msoeting@xs4all.nl
| 
