Islam and contemporary European literature to be explored at Notre Dame symposium

Author: Michael Lucien

Islam in Contemporary European Literature

Some of Europe’s most prominent Muslim and Muslim-born writers will discuss the place of Islam in their work at a symposium titled “The Place of Islam in Contemporary European Literature,” to be held Nov. 16 and 17 (Monday and Tuesday) at the University of Notre Dame.

Jointly sponsored by the University’s Nanovic Institute for European Studies, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Kellogg Institute for International Studies and Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts, the symposium will feature a keynote address by Azouz Begag, a novelist, scriptwriter, scholar and former delegate minister for equal opportunities in France who has been awarded Chevalier de L’Ordre du Mérite and Chevalier de La Légion d’Honneur.

Conference panelists also include novelists, statesmen, sociologists, poets, filmmakers, translators and editors. Moderated by Notre Dame faculty, panel discussions will focus on the place of Islam in the writing process; the literature of geography, memory and exile; literature and generational identity; and discussions of literature and power.

In addition to lectures and discussions, the symposium also will feature a screening of “Le Grand Voyage” at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Eck Visitors’ Center auditorium. Director Ismaël Ferroukhi is scheduled to introduce the award-winning film, which explores a father and son’s relationship as they travel across Europe to Mecca.

All symposium events are free and open to the public. More information and a complete schedule of events are available here.

Contact: Anthony Monta, Nanovic Institute, amonta@nd.edu