Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GLOMAG (Global Maghreb: Transnational Recognition and Knowledge of a Postcolonial Literature)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-09-01 al 2024-08-31
Global Maghreb: Transnational Recognition and Knowledge of a Postcolonial Literature offers a groundbreaking approach to the study of Postcolonial literatures and, more generally, literary history, by (1) promoting a genuinely interdisciplinary approach that spans both literary studies and the social sciences (i.e. sociology, history); (2) reframing the “national literature” used in literary studies with a transnational (and multilingual) perspective; and (3) questioning the Postcolonial in the context of Globalization. The objective is to understand the impact of transnational circulation of texts and writers on literary recognition, as well as to historicize the transnationally produced knowledge of these literatures. The research is focused on North-African countries that gained independence from France in the 1950s/1960s (i.e. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and examines them in an international landscape (ie., French, Arabic, English). The work is divided into three case studies. (1) “Transnational intermediation of Maghreb literature” develops a macro understanding of the circulation of texts, using a bibliographical database and interviews with translators and other intermediaries of the transnational circulation, as well as archives of publishing houses and University departements. (2) “Female Maghreb Writers in the USA ” compares the trajectory and reception of three female writers and their work in the USA, depending on their generation and language they write in (French, Arabic, English). (3) “Transnational creation of a national literature” historicizes the nationalization of “Algerian literature” and the exclusion of writers for political (European writers after independence), religious (Jewish writers), ethnic (Black writers) or linguistic (Francophone) reasons, and highlights the ongoing struggles on this literature’s “identity.” The dual objectives of Recognition and Knowledge are inherently political. As such, GLOMAG is an original and effective means to combat (1) global cultural hierarchies, and (2) prejudices regarding so-called “identities” (especially those concerning Muslims).
Both objectives have been achieved. North African literature’s recognition depends on factors such as its periphery within both Linguistic area (Francophone and Arabophone); and the language used. The literature translated from Arabic into English, from French into English, or directly written in English form a continuum in terms of recognition in the USA. However, writers as well as intermediaries have also a strong impact in modifying the weight of those variables. Regarding the second objective, WP4 addresses it thoroughly, demonstrating that national literatures emerge from contested and contradictory perceptions, both internal and external to the nation, and across different languages. As for the main hypothesis, the research confirms that France and the French language remain central to the recognition and understanding of the Maghreb. However, this centrality is increasingly challenged locally by the growing emancipation of Arabic literature and internationally by the growing centrality of English in the economy of translation, and of North African knowledge about the Maghreb.
Both objectives have been achieved. North African literature’s recognition depends on factors such as its periphery within both Linguistic area (Francophone and Arabophone); and the language used. The literature translated from Arabic into English, from French into English, or directly written in English form a continuum in terms of recognition in the USA. However, writers as well as intermediaries have also a strong impact in modifying the weight of those variables. Regarding the second objective, WP4 addresses it thoroughly, demonstrating that national literatures emerge from contested and contradictory perceptions, both internal and external to the nation, and across different languages. As for the main hypothesis, the research confirms that France and the French language remain central to the recognition and understanding of the Maghreb. However, this centrality is increasingly challenged locally by the growing emancipation of Arabic literature and internationally by the growing centrality of English in the economy of translation, and of North African knowledge about the Maghreb.
WP2:
1) Building of a database (600 titles)
2) Interviews with importers of NA Literature (16 translators, 5 editors, 3 literary agents, 6 scholars)
3) Archives of publishing houses, literary agencies, and translator
4) Archives of scholars and University departments
5) Survey on American translators of French and Arabic
WP3:
1) Archives and/or Interviews on Assia Djebar, Leyla Abuzeid and Laila Lalami
2) Reading of their works
3) Study of the trajectory and reception of these three authors.
WP4:
1) Fieldwork in Tunisia, France and USA
2) survey on translation within North Africa
WP5:
- Linguistic Improvement: English in the USA, Arabic in France
- Technical Improvement: Digital Humanities at Columbia and at the CNRS
- Network Improvement
- Mentoring Improvement: Teaching; Supervision, doctoral committees and Phd jurys in the USA, France and Belgium
WP6:
- Organisation of 4 panels or conferences in the USA and France; and of 1 year-long seminar in France
- 28 talks total, including 2 Keynotes, and 2 personal talks in prominents US universities
- 3 reviews of books and 1 Foreword to a book were published so far
- 4 chapters of books have been accepted and about to be published
- 1 article was written ("The Invisible Intellectuals. The Emerging Field of anglophone Translators)" and is about to be submitted to Cultural Sociology.
- Co-edition of 2 special issues for prominent journals (Journal of World Literature, Etudes littéraires africaines) and 1 edited volume for Bloomsbury (Maghreb Literature as World Literature)
- 1 op-ed article, and 2 interviews related to it
1) Building of a database (600 titles)
2) Interviews with importers of NA Literature (16 translators, 5 editors, 3 literary agents, 6 scholars)
3) Archives of publishing houses, literary agencies, and translator
4) Archives of scholars and University departments
5) Survey on American translators of French and Arabic
WP3:
1) Archives and/or Interviews on Assia Djebar, Leyla Abuzeid and Laila Lalami
2) Reading of their works
3) Study of the trajectory and reception of these three authors.
WP4:
1) Fieldwork in Tunisia, France and USA
2) survey on translation within North Africa
WP5:
- Linguistic Improvement: English in the USA, Arabic in France
- Technical Improvement: Digital Humanities at Columbia and at the CNRS
- Network Improvement
- Mentoring Improvement: Teaching; Supervision, doctoral committees and Phd jurys in the USA, France and Belgium
WP6:
- Organisation of 4 panels or conferences in the USA and France; and of 1 year-long seminar in France
- 28 talks total, including 2 Keynotes, and 2 personal talks in prominents US universities
- 3 reviews of books and 1 Foreword to a book were published so far
- 4 chapters of books have been accepted and about to be published
- 1 article was written ("The Invisible Intellectuals. The Emerging Field of anglophone Translators)" and is about to be submitted to Cultural Sociology.
- Co-edition of 2 special issues for prominent journals (Journal of World Literature, Etudes littéraires africaines) and 1 edited volume for Bloomsbury (Maghreb Literature as World Literature)
- 1 op-ed article, and 2 interviews related to it
WP2:
-> Main result of the Database is to show how Globalization has challenged the centrality of France for its Postcolonial Literature
-> Main result of the study of University curricula is that Maghreb Literature became part of the mainstream in French studies, while remaining marginal in Middle-East studies.
-> Main result of the study of American intermediaries of North African Literature is that there are two types: the mainstream and the political.
-> Main result of the Interviews and survey on translator is that their political motivation in translating depends on 3 factors: their main profession, the language they translate from, and their gender.
WP3:
-> Main result is that Women writers, despite being less imported into English than men, enjoy a higher recognition in the USA than North African men, thanks to the commitment of a network of scholars. However their reception is very different depending on several factors, universalising the Anglophone, exoticizing the Arabophone, and literarizing the Francophone.
->>Conclusion of both WPs: there is a Phantom of languages: despite being read in English, these North african authors are read differently because of linguistics inequalities that found their way through the process of international circulation.
WP4:
->There is no homogeneous definition of Algerian literature, nor of its literary canon: it is rather the product of transnational debates since the colonial times until today.
-> Translations between North African languages don't always contribute to build a pacified literary nation, as they also convey violence and resistance to violence.
Societal Impact: Understanding the impact of International inequalities of Languages, in particular in Literature.
Individual impact on career: those 3 years in the USA established me as an important figure in the relatively new field of sociology of literature in the USA, and in particular in aspects linked to international circulation of literature. As a consequence, I was invited to give to Keynotes during the return phase. All this work will enable me to publish a book, The Phantom of the Language, which will help me obtain my Habilitation, and become Full Professor.
-> Main result of the Database is to show how Globalization has challenged the centrality of France for its Postcolonial Literature
-> Main result of the study of University curricula is that Maghreb Literature became part of the mainstream in French studies, while remaining marginal in Middle-East studies.
-> Main result of the study of American intermediaries of North African Literature is that there are two types: the mainstream and the political.
-> Main result of the Interviews and survey on translator is that their political motivation in translating depends on 3 factors: their main profession, the language they translate from, and their gender.
WP3:
-> Main result is that Women writers, despite being less imported into English than men, enjoy a higher recognition in the USA than North African men, thanks to the commitment of a network of scholars. However their reception is very different depending on several factors, universalising the Anglophone, exoticizing the Arabophone, and literarizing the Francophone.
->>Conclusion of both WPs: there is a Phantom of languages: despite being read in English, these North african authors are read differently because of linguistics inequalities that found their way through the process of international circulation.
WP4:
->There is no homogeneous definition of Algerian literature, nor of its literary canon: it is rather the product of transnational debates since the colonial times until today.
-> Translations between North African languages don't always contribute to build a pacified literary nation, as they also convey violence and resistance to violence.
Societal Impact: Understanding the impact of International inequalities of Languages, in particular in Literature.
Individual impact on career: those 3 years in the USA established me as an important figure in the relatively new field of sociology of literature in the USA, and in particular in aspects linked to international circulation of literature. As a consequence, I was invited to give to Keynotes during the return phase. All this work will enable me to publish a book, The Phantom of the Language, which will help me obtain my Habilitation, and become Full Professor.