THE CURRENT STATE OF LITERARY SEMIOTICS
Imatra, Finland, June 10-13, 2006
Organizer: International Semiotics Institute (ISI)
During the past 10 years, literary semiotics has entered into a new phase of development. The pragmatic theory of semiotics based on Charles Peirce's writings is increasingly applied to the analysis of literary texts, thus giving shape to new forms of research and to a new theory of how literature should be understood. At the same time, important interdisciplinary approaches such as research on iconicity, queer studies, performance theory, and cognitive studies focus on questions of signification and sign, shedding a new light on semiotic processes in literature. There is, however, also continuity in this renewal since a great part of the analytical concepts and research methods currently in use are derived from (post)structural research.
The time is thus ripe for a reflection on the current state of literary semiotics. Are we witnessing the emergence of a new paradigm? If yes, what kind of research does it produce? Is it time to transcend earlier divisions between competing paradigms and to look for a synthesis in literary semiotics? Which elements in (post)structural research are still valuable? We invite all scholars interested in literary semiotics to reflect on the current state of the art according to the lines of inquiry proposed by these and related questions. The issues can be addressed from a theoretical or a methodological point of view. Readings and interpretations of individual texts that exemplify different paradigms are also welcome.
Invited lecturers: Jørgen Dines Johansen (University of Southern Denmark, Odense), Christina Ljungberg (University of Zürich) and Louis Armand (Charles University, Prague)
Director: Harri Veivo (University of Helsinki/Finnish Network University of Semiotics)
The seminar is part of the annual International Summer School for Semiotic and Structural Studies organised by the International Semiotics Institute (ISI), which takes place on June 10-15, 2006.
Categories of Participation and Conditions of Admission:
There are two categories of participation:
1) Active: Participant presenting a paper in the seminar.
2) Passive: Participant following the seminar without presenting a paper.
An active participant must send a short curriculum vitae and a one page abstract of his/her paper together with the registration form to the ISI (address given below). Registration forms can be filled in electronic form at the ISI website (www.isisemiotics.fi) or ordered from the ISI. Abstract, cv and registration form should reach the organizers no later than March 31, 2006. The abstracts will be published as a booklet and should be sent both as a Word-document (email attachment or on diskette) and in hard copy.
A passive participant must send the registration form by April 30, 2006.
Participation Fee: 125 EUR (the fee covers lunch and two coffees a day from 11.-15.6. and an elegant evening reception and buffet on June 10th). Payment of fees must be made before April 30 by bank transfer to the ISI bank account with Sampo Bank. The bank identifier code is: PSPBFIHH. The international bank account number is: FI8780001802071697. In Finland, the bank account number is Sampo 800018-2071697.
You are also encouraged to visit the ISI Internet website (www.isisemiotics.fi) for the most up to date information as it becomes available.
For further information, please contact:
Harri Veivo, harri.veivo@helsinki.fi
For registration, please contact:
International Semiotics Institute, Virastokatu 1, 55100 Imatra, Finland
tel. +358-5-681 6639, fax +358-5-681 6696
e-mail: Maija.Rossi@isisemiotics.fi, Anna.Mennola@isisemiotics.fi