Maka Elbakidze 

International Symposium “Contemporary Issues of Literary Criticism” – Visit Card of Contemporary Georgian Philology

As The long-standing experience proved, not only presenting achievements in the scientific field is the main purpose of international symposiums, conferences and seminars but also broadening the circle of contacts among the scientists of different countries as well as planning joint researches and projects.

The scientific priority of Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature is studying Georgian literature in the context of modern philological standards, which means the interpretation of literary process in wider literary and aesthetic terms considering general literary process and proper cultural models. For this reason under the direction of Prof. Irma Ratiani, director of the Institute, international symposium “Contemporary Issues of Literary Criticism” is held at the Institute every year, which is one of the optimal ways to keep in touch with similar research centers overseas. Such kind of scientific forums encourage Georgian scientific potential to become the part of international literary research. Accordingly, this fact significantly helps Georgian philological school integrate in the world-wide humanitarian processes.

The first symposium, held in 2007, can be called an experiment as it was a rather brave initiative of the Shota Rustaveli Instutute of Georgian Literature – the first attempt to go beyond the borders. The theme of the symposium was quite broad and covered different directions of literary study (medieval studies; contemporary literary processes; intercultural communications; literary theory, folklore). Round tables were also held in the frames of the symposium on the following topics: periodization of literary history; post-modernism. It can be said the “experiment” proved to be successful: 79 speakers participated in the symposium, from Tbilisi and different part of Georgia (Kutaisi, Gori, Sighnaghi) as well as from scientific centers of Jerusalem, Seattle, Warsaw, Granada, St. Petersburg, Baku, Yerevan. This was a big motivation for the organizers of the symposium to make the symposium an annual event.

The next symposium was due to be held in September 2008 (the symposium has been held on last Wednesday of September since then, which has become some kind of tradition) but it was postponed until December due to the tragic political situation. And yet, the organizing committee decided to hold scientific forum in December despite a hard political situation in Georgia, The scientists from Bulgaria, Lithuania, Turkey, Cyprus, Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan participated together with Georgian scientists. The arrival of foreign scholars in Georgia expressed some kind of solidarity. The sessions worked on the following themes: medieval studies; comparative analysis of the text and typology of culture; intercultural communications; mythos;, ritual, symbol; contemporary literary processes; the boundaries of novel; text and a reader. At the same time thematic scientific conference was held in the frames of the symposium entitled “Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani and Georgian European Tradition. Literature, Culture, Consciousness”, which was dedicated to the 350th anniversary of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, Georgian prominent writer, diplomat and public character. Besides this, two round table were held on the functional models in the text and literary processes of 1920s and 1930s.

The scientific forum has become of a thematic character since 2009. The first theme of the symposium was “Totalitarianism and Literary Discourse. 20th century experience”. The symposium of 2009 was a breakthrough of literary studies as more than 200 scientists got interested in it among which 134 researchers were selected to present their papers, 69 of which were foreigners. The rounds tables were held in the frames of the symposium. The scientific result in terms of symposium proceedings was so significant that for the first time in the history of the post-soviet reality, Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature was offered to have selected articles re-published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, a very prestigious English publishing house. The editorial board selected articles and in 2012 selected materials of the symposium proceedings were published in English language in England, edited by Prof. Irma Ratiani. More than 22 articles by Georgian authors were included in the publication which made their works more significantly readable.

Since 2009 the symposium has been thematic and works according to the frames of the theme it announces every year. Every theme covers a wide spectrum of research. For example, the 5th and the 6th symposiums were dedicated to the anniversaries of Akaki Tsereteli (2010) and Vazha-Pshavela (2011), Georgian classics: in 2010 the 170th anniversary of Akaki Tsereteli was widely celebrated. The year of 2011 was announced as a year of Vazha-Pshavela by UNESCO as it was the 150th anniversary of the writer. Accordingly, the themes of both symposium were determined: The Epoch of Classic Realism. Cultural and Literary Tendencies of the 19th Century (October, 2010) and Mythic Thinking, Folklore and Literary Discourse. European and Caucasian Experience (September, 2011). According to the decision of the organizing committee, special sections of the symposium were dedicated to the legacy of these writers and its analysis. Besides this, a wider themes were suggested to the participants of the forum. For example: Typological Analysis of Literary Processes and Major Tendencies of Criticism, National Literatures and World Literary Process, Caucasian Mythology and Georgian Folklore etc.

Similar forum was held in 2012: the symposium was dedicated to the 300 anniversary of the printed version of “The Man in the Panther’s Skin”. The participants were suggested a broad range of themes as usual, mostly concerning the actual problems of medieval studies (literary genres of the Middle Ages, spiritual literature of the Middle Ages, Middle ages: Epoch and Cultural Tendencies, literary tradition of the Middle Ages – East and West, the problem of interaction of European and national contexts, literature of Middle Ages and contemporary literary process). The list of the sections proves that the goal of the symposium was the key problems of modern medieval studies along with reception of the poem The Man in the Panther’s Skin according to the modern level of literary studies and its introduction in the world literary space. The round table held in the frames of the symposium served the same purpose: the translations of The Man in the Panther’s Skin, which was attended by a number of foreign guests along with Georgian scientists. Such an avid interest shows the poem by Shota Rustaveli is translated into most languages of the world. Therefore, The Man in the Panther’s Skin is some kind of “visit card” overseas. The participants of the round agreed that despite a lot of valuable translations of the poem, its new translations are of a significant importance for the 21st century reader, which would enable them to conceive this masterpiece of the Middle Ages from another angle.

The subject of the symposium held in 2013 was actual as well. It was entitled “Literature in Exile. Emigrants’ Fiction (XX Century Experience)”. Prof. Irma Ratiani, the head of the organizing committee of the symposium, wrote in the preamble of the subject of the symposium: emigration goes like a red line along the 20th century history, which is notorious for both long and short regimes and dictatorships. A great number of writers became the victims of the ongoing process of emigration occurring in the 20th century. They fled (some of them voluntarily and others forcedly) from the existing regime so that they could watch unbearable processes from the distance, reveal the truth and direct the attention of the world’s intellectual forces towards the criminal dictatorships. What are the writings, publicist works and criticism of the emigrant writers like? How do they perceive their native countries from the far distance as well as processes taking place “There”? What literary genres and the forms of literary depictions do they refer to? Does a geographical location or a linguistic model determine a writer’s national identity? After a writer leaves his country and adapts with new models of a language, is he likely to become a representative of another national literature? The participants tried to answer these questions as well as discuss other important issues. The 7th International Symposium stood out for its international scale as 168 scientists from different countries (22 countries in total) of the world participated in this event. These countries are: USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan.

The sessions covered the following issues: Emigrants’ Fiction - Alternative Literary Discourse; Emigrants’ Fiction - Literary Genres and Artistic Models; Emigrants’ Fiction - Integration and Adaptation; Emigrants’ Publicist Works and Criticism; Problems of Language and Style of Emigrant Writers; Georgian Literature in a Foreign Language Environment – Israel. At the same time Round Table was held in Georgian, Russian and English languages, the topic of which was Literature on Both Sides of the Border. The round table was attended by a number of scientists from post-soviet union countries as well as from east European ones.

It is noteworthy that Cambridge Scholars Publishing (CSP) got interested and offered to publish volume based on the proceedings of the symposium. The editorial board have already selected the materials for the publication and the process of the translation has started as well. The volume is due to be edited by Prof. Irma Ratiani and it will be published in 2015.

The symposium held this year, 2014, was of a big importance as well. It was entitled “National Literatures and the Process of Cultural Globalization”. This topic is widely discussed in the circles of social, cultural and political studies. There are two kinds of attitudes towards this issue: according to the first one, globalization will broaden so called “business” and “consumeristic” relationships among different countries of the world making cultures come closer to each other and widening international relationships. As for skeptics, doubt this process will do any good but cause narrowing of national cultures finally turning them into international culture, which on it turn would decrease the potential of adaptation of the mankind. Which approach is right? Where does the boarder go? These are the very issues the participants of the symposium discussed in different sections: Globalization and the Problem of Cultural Integration; National Literary Canon and the Mechanisms of Cultural Globalization; Weltliteratur and the Issue of National Literatures; Literature without Borders?– Pro et Contra.

At the same time the round table on the subject Communicative Function of Translation in the Process of Cultural Globalization and the dialogues about Literary Censorship – “Black Hole” in Global Space were held as well which was hosted by Azerbaijani Comparativistic Association. David Damrosch, Harvard University Professor and the founder of World Literature Institute gave a lecture on the topic “The World in the Nation, the Nation in the World”, which was followed by the discussion. The lecture was attended by Georgian scientists along with foreign ones (Macedonian, Romanian, Slovenian etc.) whose national literature’s popularity is hindered by the language barrier…

Holding eight international symposiums throughout eight years is not only a big responsibility for its organizers but also the best perspective for forecasting future prospective. What are the achievements gained during these period?

First of all, it is worth to mention that the geographical boarders of the scientific forum has become broader since the first symposium was held. Throughout this period eight distinguished scientists from different countries of the world have participated in the working process of the symposiums: David Damrosch, Michael Long, Mary Childs, Dodona Kiziria from USA, David Jaque, Jenifer Wallace from UK, Alexander Stroev from France, Rudolf Kroitner from German, Andrey Chichkin, Yordan Lyutskanov, Irina Perianova from Bulgaria, Ryszard Zajączkowski, Wiesna Mond Kozlovska from Poland, Andrew Goodspeed from Macedonia, Marko Juvan, Marian Dovik from Slovenia, Ruben Enoch from Israel, Muzafer Qir, Vusal Chelebi from Turkey, Janolakh Qarim, Marzieh Yahyapour from Iran, Ruta Bruzgene, Jurate Lansbergyte, Elina Bakutite from Lithuania, Aleksey Chagin, Kazbek Seltanov, Klara Sharafadina, Maria Chernjak, Ljudmila Boris, Irina Alekseeva, Almira Kazieva from Russia, Tamara Hundorova, Roman Dzyk from Ukraine, Anatoli Andreev from Belorussia, Avetik Isaakian, Tigran Simian from Armenia, Rahilya Geybullayeva, Flora Nadji, Fikret Rzaev from Azerbaijan, Milana Lazaridi from from Kirgizstan, Zhanna Tolisbaeva, Gulbanu Sharipova from Kazakhstan etc.

An international character of the symposium determines broadening contacts among scientists of different countries. For example, after the arrival of Marian Dovik, Slovenian scientist, in Georgia the first Georgian-Slovenian joint project was carried out: in 2013 the anthology of the Georgian prose – “Lion color Summits” (“Vrhovi levjih barv”) - was published in Ljubljana, as a result of which Slovenian readers were introduced with the best works by Georgian writers of XX century: Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Leo Qiacheli, Mikheil Javakhishvili, Revaz Inanishvili, Tamaz Bibiluri, Guram Dochanashvili, Guram Rcheulishvili. “The Man in the Panther’s Skin” was published in Georgian and Ukrainian languages in Ukraine.
Throughout these years Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian literature gained many faithful friends and Georgian literature got quite a few admirers.

For instance, Jordan Ljutskanov, the faithful participant of the symposium who has attended all symposiums since 2008, loved Georgia and Georgian literature so much that he stayed in Georgia in 2014 to learn Georgian and do the course of Georgian literature so that he can study it profoundly.

Mary Childs, professor of Seattle University owing to the symposium held in 2007 got interested in Kartvelian studies and in 2011 gave a talk on Vazha-Pshavela. She is actively working on the translation of Otar Chiladze’s novel “A Man Went Down the Road”.

Mrs. Ljudmila Hritsik from Ukraine strives for broadening Georgian and Ukrainian relationships and Zhandos Smagulov tries to restore literary relationships between Georgia and Kazakhstan. Several scientific projects are being launched in Azerbaijan and France as well. For the first time the conference about Kartvelian Studies will be held in Texas in 2015.

One more big achievement of the symposium is publishing symposium proceedings as a valuable and informative production in Georgian and English languages. One of the most important successes of the forum is that Cambridge Scholars publishing got interested in the 9th and 13th themes of the symposium.

In conclusion it could be seen that international symposium “Contemporary Issues of Literary Criticism” has already gained international authority and got its niche in international literary studies. With hindsight it is more appropriate to forecast future prospective.