PG & Research Department of English
Queen Mary’s College (Autonomous)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
Invites
you for
The
Lecture Series on
Literature in Times Like These
03 July – 06 July 2020
9. 30 am to 11 am
The Lecture
Series titled, ‘Literature in Times Like
These’ is an endeavour to reach out to the student community during this
pandemic COVID 19, to find strength in the human response to similar situations
in the past, be it the Great Plague or the Spanish Influenza.
The feelings of
insecurity that gnaw at us when one amongst us falls through disease may be
seen even in War Literature, for even this pandemic is ravaging along the lines
of armed conflict.
Displacement is
also one of the fallouts of this war with Corona Virus. Heart-wrenching images
and stories of migrant labourers have left indelible imprints on our minds. The
employment scenario is bleak with wage cuts: many have lost their jobs due to
the lockdown.
Isn't this
reminiscent of the Great Depression? The existential crisis looms large before
us not only because of the economy but also due to disease and death.
And yet,
Literature has always served as a place of refuge for the human spirit, an
ocean where we may sink our griefs, a springboard from which we can liberate
our spirits.
In times like these
we cannot help remembering “the fever and the fret” that Keats lamented and his
ability to transcend it as well, the “negative capability” which unleashed from
him a tribute to a tiny, but significant form of life, the nightingale of whom
he said, “Thou wast not born for death, Immortal Bird. No hungry generations
tread thee down.”
He literally took
flight on the wings of the little bird when he said, “Away for I will fly with
thee. Not charioted by Bacchus and his pards. But on the viewless wings of
poesy.” That is transcendence!
The Lecture
Series on Literature in Times Like
These, will have experienced and eminent professors, address students on
Literature in the context of -
Existentialism
Transcendence
Disease
Displacement of
human communities
This crisis has
witnessed a commendable response in terms of human beings bonding together
online.
May we keep this
spirit going by bringing together our students from different colleges to
listen together and think together about life as it has been dealt to us today.
As the saying goes, “We don't deal the cards. But we can learn to play them!”
***************
Speakers
03 July 2020
Topic: Existentialism
Dr. Samuel Rufus
Madras Christian
College (Autonomous)
Chennai, TN
04 July 2020
Topic: Canker, Plague and Phage
Dr. Abdul Jinnah
Jamal Mohamed
College (Autonomous)
Trichy, TN
05 July 2020
Topic: Transcendence
Dr. K. Ganesh
University of
Madras
Chennai, TN
06 July 2020
Topic: Exodus
Dr. D. E. Benet
National College
(Autonomous)
Trichy, TN
Guidelines for the Webinar
1. The Webinar shall be conducted on the Zoom platform on
all four days between 9. 30 am and 11 am. The link for joining in the Webinar will
be sent to you personally on your registered email.
2. You may start
joining the meeting from 9. 15 am onwards.
3. Kindly keep your
audio and video options off during the Webinar, and please do not click on the
‘Present Now’ or ‘Share Button’ under any circumstances.
4. Since there is a restriction of 100 participants
in the Zoom platform, entry is based purely on first-come-first-served basis.
If possible, the webinar will be made available ‘live’ in the YouTube link
which will be e-mailed to the participants before the beginning of the Webinar.
5. Clarifications/Questions/Doubts
can be raised after the talk of the Resource Person. The participants are
requested to type their questions in the Chatbox provided.
6. All participants are requested to enter your
Name with Designation, Institution, Mail ID and Mobile Number in the Chatbox.
7. Feedback link will
be shared at the end of each session and e-Certificate will be provided to
those who submit the feedback form.
To register, kindly
click on this link below.
With warm regards,
Dr. Maria Preethi Srinivasan
Head, Department of English
Queen Mary’s College (Autonomous)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
Contact Email: qmcwebinar2020@gmail.com
Contact Mobile: 9444067051