Que Peut La Littérature Quand Elle Ne Peut? *What Can Literature Do When...

Que Peut La Littérature Quand Elle Ne Peut? / What Can Literature Do When It Can Do Nothing?

Date: Tuesday, November 03, 2026

Times: 03:30 p.m. ~ 05:30 p.m.

Location: Diffenbaugh Building, Room 009

With Speakers:

Patrick Chamoiseau • Multidisciplinary Artist, Patrick Crowley • University College Galway, Charles Forsdick • University Of Cambridge, Maeve McCusker • Queen’s University Belfast, And Martin Munro • Florida State University

About The Event

“Aujourd’hui, pour questionner les littératures dans leur rapport au monde, donc à chaque être vivant, il serait indécent de ne pas considérer toutes les oppressions.”

“Today, to question literatures in their relationship with the world, therefore with every living being, it would not be right to ignore all forms of oppression” ( Patrick Chamoiseau, Que peut littérature quand elle ne peut? )

What can literature do when by its nature it can do little or nothing to effect the kinds of changes it often promotes? What can it do in times of crises, political, ecological, social? As readers, can our experience of the written word enable political engagement and shape ethical practice? Such are the questions raised in Chamoiseau’s 2025 work, and which will be addressed in this seminar, which also features leading scholars of Francophone postcolonial studies. The seminar will be of interest to readers, writers, and students of all languages and cultures — anyone who reads — as we discuss issues that are global in their implications. Come with your own ideas and questions and share in this important discussion.

* The seminar will be in French and English *