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The Presence of Absence: Coming to Terms with the Holocaust in Contemporary European Literature

The Presence of Absence: Coming to Terms with the Holocaust in Contemporary European Literature

Publié le par Matthieu Vernet (Source : Emmanuelle Vanborre)

40th AnniversaryConvention, Northeast Modern Language Association

(NeMLA) Feb. 26-March1, 2009 Hyatt Regency - Boston, Massachusetts


"To keep silent is forbidden, to speak is impossible." Thisquote by Elie Wiesel contains the paradox that the survivors face after anatrocity such as the Holocaust. It is necessary and impossible to talk or writeabout the event. Impossible, because language eludes the reality that wasexperienced and at the same time necessary, as it seems to be the onlypossibility to remember, witness and survive. The witness, the writer, musttalk and write even though he knows it will be disappointing. Language cannot encapsulateand retrace the reality of the event but language has to convey the memory, thewitnessing. The necessity prevails and one must speak and write knowing thatlanguage is not adequate, knowing that it is impossible. Maurice Blanchot alsoreflects on the possibility of writing after the Holocaust. A quote from Thewriting of the disaster, clearly articulates this impossibility which carries anecessity: "And how, in fact, can one accept not to know? We read books onAuschwitz. The wish of all, in the camps, the last wish: know what hashappened, do not forget, and at the same time never will you know." It isnecessary to know and it is impossible to know. Writing seems to contain theimpossible memory; fiction indeed allows this impossible retranscription. Fiction, by theway it functions, gives presence to absence. Fiction thus seems the mostadequate of inadequate mediums to convey the necessary impossibility.

This panel seeks to explore the different ways in which writers incontemporary Europe address, directly or indirectly the paradox, the impossiblenecessity, the necessary impossibility to witness, to talk and write about theHolocaust.

Deadline: September15, 2008

Please include withyour abstract:

Name and Affiliation

Email address

Postal address

Telephone number

A/V requirements (ifany; $10 handling fee)

Please send yourabstract to both panel chairs.

Emmanuelle Vanborre,Ph.D. and Gregor Thuswaldner, Ph.D.

Department of ForeignLanguages & Linguistics

Gordon College

255 Grapevine Road

Wenham, MA 01984

Fax (978) 867 3300

emmanuelle.vanborre@gordon.edu

gregor.thuswaldner@gordon.edu