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Symposium
Corfu's Asian Art Museum
The Durrell School of Corfu opens each annual session with a
symposium that examines themes of importance to the Durrells
and to our world. The first symposium in 2002 took
"Understanding Misunderstanding" as its central theme and it
included distinguished leaders in politics, economics, the arts
and environmental studies among its participants.
Keynote speakers in 2004 include: Gayatry Chakravorty Spivak,
Columbia University professor and cultural theorist; Lee Durrell
from the Durrell World Wildlife Trust; and David Bellamy,
internationally acclaimed ecologist and botanist.
Previous participants have included: John Brandon of the Asia
Foundation; Elemer Hankiss, dean of the Hungarian Academy of
Sciences; Marwan Bishara from the American Univerisity of Paris;
and the environmentalist David Bellamy.
The Venetian Winged Lion
CORFU IS BEAUTIFUL, AFFORDABLE AND SAFE!!
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CALL FOR SEMINAR PAPERS
TRADITION AND CHANGE IN RURAL SOCIETY
(24-30 September 2006)
The Durrell School of Corfu will hold a seminar on the topic 'Tradition and
Change in Rural Society' at its Library and Study Centre in Corfu, 24-30
September 2006.
The growth of urbanisation in almost all countries, and the changing values and perceptions of those living in rural societies, underline the continuing relevance of tradition in the light of the transformations experienced by those societies.
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The DSC seminar will examine the effects of demographic, economic, social and
political changes on rural society both in theory and in practice, in order to
discuss the present-day and future relevance and status of tradition.
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Corfu's Rue de Rivoli
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The changing conceptual and physical landscape of Greece (and particularly of its islands) provides us with many examples of such changes,* and priority will be given to presentations on Greek topics, but proposals are invited from any country or region that has experienced a significant shift from rural to urban life in recent decades.
*The Ionian islands provide many such examples, including: aerial spraying of the olive groves with Lebayacin in Corfu; the tourism development which threatens the breeding grounds of the loggerhead turtles in Zakynthos; and the creation of marinas throughout the region.
Visiting faculty will include:
David Bellamy, one of the world’s leading botanists and environmental campaigners;
Maria Couroucli (Université Paris-X), author of Les oliviers du lignage : une Grèce de tradition vénitienne, a study of the tradition of olive-growing in the village of Episkepsi (Corfu);
David Sutton (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA), author of Memories Cast in Stone: the relevance of the Past in Everyday Life, a study of the Aegean island of Kalymnos.
The seminar will include field classes to:
- The Sylva project, where horses indigenous to the island of Skyros, but endangered in their natural habitat, are being bred in captivity in Corfu, according to the principles of the late Gerald Durrell;
- The deserted medieval village of Peritheia part of which is being restored;
- The Folk Museum of Sinarades.
TOPICS which may be addressed:
[this list is not exclusive, and other topics are also invited]
- internal migration from country to city
- external migration
- industrialisation in a predominantly agricultural/agrarian society
- relations between urban and rural populations
- changing gender roles in rural society
- relations between island communities and mainland centres of power
- the economic and social effects of tourism
- ecology and the relationship of people with their environment
- tensions between conservation and development
- the relevance of the past in everyday life
- continuity in rural society: storytelling as the transmission of culture and value
- the role and scope of anthropology and ethnography
- the commodification of history
- the quest for “authenticity”
- reading cultural landscapes: “the tourist gaze”.
The format of the seminar will facilitate detailed discussion of each paper moderated by members of the School’s faculty, and will therefore permit no more than 6 papers each day. Full texts of accepted presentations must be received at the DSC (durrells@otenet.gr) by 1 September 2006 in electronic format in order to facilitate circulation to all participants.
A selection of papers and the discussion they inspire will be published by the DSC as part of its Proceedings.
In absentia presentations are not acceptable.
Proposals (2 pages maximum), together with the proposer's CV, should be received at the DSC by e-mail before 10 June 2006 durrells@otenet.gr.
In absentia presentations are not acceptable.
Proposals (2 pages maximum), together with the proposer's CV, should be received at the DSC by e-mail before 10 June 2006 durrells@otenet.gr.
The registration fee for the seminar will be 300 euros for participants (to include costs of field classes) and 350 euros for those who wish to attend and take part in the discussions, but who do not wish to present papers.
The Durrell School of Corfu cannot be responsible for any costs associated with travel or accommodation. Intending participants should consult the DSC website (www.durrell-school-corfu.org) for details of accommodation available in Corfu.
A limited number of scholarships is available: in the first instance, contact the Administrative Director at: durrells@otenet.gr.
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