2008 Press Releases
French and world culture in a year of anniversaries
09.10.2008
This weekend (October 10-11th 2008) sees the tenth annual conference of the Association des études françaises et francophones d'Irlande taking place for the first time in UCC. In the ten years of its existence, the ADEFFI has established itself as a vital element in a flourishing research and postgraduate scene in French studies in all parts of the island.
09.10.2008
This weekend (October 10-11th 2008) sees the tenth annual conference of the Association des études françaises et francophones d'Irlande taking place for the first time in UCC. In the ten years of its existence, the ADEFFI has established itself as a vital element in a flourishing research and postgraduate scene in French studies in all parts of the island.
The conference, which takes place each year in October, has now visited practically all campuses in Ireland and has also been held in the Centre culturel irlandais in Paris. It has proved to be a lively and creative space in which established researchers and research students alike have been able to explore some of the theoretical and interdisciplinary strands which are prominent elements of the discipline today. The ADEFFI has also greatly raised the profile of the research being done in Ireland through its journal, the Cahiers de l'ADEFFI, which, through the rich and diverse work it publishes, has now established its claims on the attention of a wide international readership. Its most recent issue includes a piece on Simone de Beauvoir by the major contemporary philosopher Michèle Le Doeuff, originally delivered as a paper at an earlier annual conference.
Simone de Beauvoir, in the year which witnesses the centenary of her birth, figures prominently in this year's programme, with a number of sessions being devoted to her work and its continuing influence. There will also be sessions on May 68, a moment in post-war French history which remains a decisive reference point for investigations of contemporary France. This year's keynote address will be given by Professor Dominique Combe (Université de Paris III and University of Oxford). In what promises to be a fascinating paper, he will explore how the concept of world literature impinges on creative practice in writing in French today.
Dr Paul Hegarty, Head of the Department of French, commented: 'We're glad to welcome the ADEFFI to UCC. The conference is now an established date in the calendar and once again this year it will provide a great opportunity to hear about the work being done by colleagues and postgraduate students in Ireland, but also in centres more or less everywhere else.'
For information on the conference programme, please visit the website of the ADEFFI: http://www.adeffi.ie. The conference has been organized by the Association's President, Professor Mary Gallagher (UCD), and committee, with support locally from Dr Patrick Crowley, Dr Mary Noonan and Professor Patrick O'Donovan.
Simone de Beauvoir, in the year which witnesses the centenary of her birth, figures prominently in this year's programme, with a number of sessions being devoted to her work and its continuing influence. There will also be sessions on May 68, a moment in post-war French history which remains a decisive reference point for investigations of contemporary France. This year's keynote address will be given by Professor Dominique Combe (Université de Paris III and University of Oxford). In what promises to be a fascinating paper, he will explore how the concept of world literature impinges on creative practice in writing in French today.
Dr Paul Hegarty, Head of the Department of French, commented: 'We're glad to welcome the ADEFFI to UCC. The conference is now an established date in the calendar and once again this year it will provide a great opportunity to hear about the work being done by colleagues and postgraduate students in Ireland, but also in centres more or less everywhere else.'
For information on the conference programme, please visit the website of the ADEFFI: http://www.adeffi.ie. The conference has been organized by the Association's President, Professor Mary Gallagher (UCD), and committee, with support locally from Dr Patrick Crowley, Dr Mary Noonan and Professor Patrick O'Donovan.