Sixth Annual PG Conference in Comparative Literature & Translation Studies

@SmlcPGConf

Please note that Zoom links will be sent to registered attendees one or two days before the event.

‘Regeneration’ describes an intersection of the old and the new, signalling creation alongside a degree of continuity. It can be found everywhere – from bodily processes to ecological diversity, urban transformation to the revision and reinterpretation of history. But it is often the result of a crisis, occurring in the aftermath of wars, natural disasters, and of course pandemics. The term ‘regeneration’ is therefore closely associated with suffering, destruction and upheaval, and is at times an indication of loss as well as a sign of potential gain or repair.

Though in many ways intended as a timely call for optimism, this one-day conference sets out to interrogate the challenges involved in regeneration. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to confront problematic aspects of modern society; to reconcile a yearning for the familiar and an aversion to restrictions with a newfound appreciation of simplicity and an acceptance of change. With this context in mind, and drawing on resonant themes in literature and translation, we will explore where, when, how and why regeneration takes place.