After initial sessions in Beijing (2011) and Istanbul (2012), the Institute for World Literature returned to its headquarters at Harvard this past summer for four weeks of seminars, guest lectures, and working group meetings. Under the direction of David Damrosch, and with support from the Harvard’s Faculty of Arts & Sciences and with an Advisory Board of 24 distinguished faculty members located at Harvard and around the world, the IWL works in partnership with five dozen affiliates to bring together a growing number of participants from around the world.
From June 23 through July 17, 2014, the Institute for World Literature invites you to City University of Hong Kong for a month-long session of exploring the theory and practice of world literature. The Institute will feature twelve two-week seminars offered by some of the preeminent names in the field today:
Dudley Andrew (Yale University),
David Damrosch (Harvard University),
Theo D'haen (Catholic University, Leuven),
Jacob Edmond (University of Otago),
Eric Hayot (Pennsylvania State University),
Svend Erik Larsen (Aarhus University),
Leo Ou-fan Lee (Chinese U. of Hong Kong),
Ronit Ricci (Australian National University),
Jing Tsu (Yale University),
and Karen Thornber (Harvard University).
Our 2014 keynote speakers are Gisele Sapiro (CNRS and EHESS) and Glenn Most (Scuola Normale di Pisa).
In addition, our participants will have the opportunity to share their current work together within our eight affinity groups organized around broad themes: Sociology of World Literature, World Literature and Production, World Literature and Translation, World Literature and Circulation, Postcolonialism and World Literature, World Cinema and World Literature, Premodern(ity) and World Literature; Politics, Poetics and World Literature. Meeting once or twice each week with their peers, our participants will discuss and refine current dissertation or book projects.
Our participants’ work will benefit from using the resources of the Run Run Shaw Library of the City University of Hong Kong, renowned for its wide-ranging collection including more than a million volumes in print and over 2.4 million volumes of electronic books, as well as other media resources.
To feel the pulse of the city and its surroundings, we will organize casual outings (free or at minimal cost such as museum entrance fees). For art lovers, we will arrange a visit to the Hong Kong Museum of Art, famous for its extended collections ranging from the art of the ancient Chinese world to that of contemporary Hong Kong Art. Of special interest is the Xubaizhai Collection of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy. A visit to the Avenue of Stars, from which you can have a great view of the Victoria Harbor, is a must.
The Institute for World Literature
Harvard University