Rewilding philologies, rewilding pedagogies: a round-table discussion

Royal Irish Academy, 26 January 2024, 4.30-6pm 

Hanna Bingel-Jones (University College Cork), Caitríona Ní Dhúill (University of Salzburg), Tina-Karen Pusse (University of Galway) (organisers)

What sense does it make to speak of ‘rewilding’ disciplines that were never wild to begin with? 

This round-table discussion explores the implications of ecological crisis for the philologies -- the classical and modern languages, literatures and cultures disciplines. We ask:

• What spaces can be found within the study of languages, literatures and cultures today to reflect on, resist and begin to remake disciplinary, professional and pedagogical practice in light of the multiple socio-ecological predicaments of our time? 
• What distinctive perspectives do the philologies bring to the urgent task of undoing ecocidal cultural and political-economic commitments to infinite ‘growth’, runaway consumption and habitat destruction (including the destruction of human habitats through monocultural models of development)?
• How do the perspectives and resources of the philologies help to foster ecological awareness and eco-centric orientation in students and scholars alike?

In their current professionalised form, the philologies can be understood as products of the industrial age, enmeshed with fossil-fuel culture across all their modes of production, dissemination and practice (including the production of the subjectivities of their practitioners). The round-table envisions the university as an unrealised site of deep-reaching societal and personal transformation towards more liveable relationships with human and non-human others within the damaged, increasingly fragile web of life, and asks what the contribution of the philologies can be to such transformation. While indebted to the by now prolific dialogue between ecocriticism, the environmental humanities and Anthropocene theory, the round-table will seek to move beyond established paradigms of academic productivity to explore more ecologically reflexive -- perhaps 'wilder' -- modes of working, reading, thinking and teaching.

Attendance and participation are free of charge, but as places are limited, advance registration is required. Please register with EventBrite using this link: EventBrite 

This is an in-person, offline event; please advise on registration of any access requirements.

This event is part of the project 'Rewilding German Studies'. Organisers: Tina-Karen Pusse (University of Galway), Hanna Bingel-Jones (University College Cork), Caitríona Ní Dhúill (University of Salzburg). 

With thanks to German Life and Letters, the Environmental Research Institute UCC and Paris Lodron University o. Salzburg.

Contact: caitriona.nidhuill@plus.ac.at