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Histories, Memories and Fictions of Europe

Group Ethos and Vision

The Histories, Memories and Fictions of Europe research unit has been in existence since 1996 and offers a stimulating research environment for colleagues with a diverse range of interests relating to European literature, culture and film.

The group promotes cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural research and is active in the organisation of conferences, seminar series, screenings, workshops and symposia.

The main research interests of those involved or affiliated with the group can be grouped around the following clusters:

In 2005, members from the research unit founded the Cardiff Institute for the Study of European Visual Cultures which now hosts group events relating to the visual cultures.

Current Activities

New Research in Visual Cultures (seminar series)
Institute for European Film and Visual Cultures (various events)
Crime Narratives in Context
Representing Migration and Mobility in European Cultures
New Readings

Forthcoming conferences and symposia

In 2009 we will be hosting the following events in Cardiff:

New Research in Visual Cultures

One of the key foci of the group has been its annual seminar series, ‘New Research in Visual Cultures’, which explores aspects of European and global literary and visual cultures.

The programme for 2009 is as follows:

Future speakers for 2009 are to be confirmed.

The programme for 2008 was as follows:

Since 2001, selected papers from the series have been disseminated via a peer-reviewed e-journal New Readings. Volume 9 was launched in October 2008 and is devoted to ‘Europe in the 1950s: the Lost Decade'.

Past Events

2008: Conference: ‘Made in the GGR: Visual Culture in the Other Germany’, 4 April, Cardiff University, UK

2008: ‘Women and Travel’: a research workshop sponsored by the Contemporary Women’s Writing in French research network, Institute of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of London, Cardiff University, 23 February.

2007: Conference: ‘The Lost Decade: The 1950s in European History, Economy, Society and culture, 11-13 July, Cardiff University, UK.

2007: Symposium: ‘L’Histoire vue et vécue: Visual Cultures and Modern France’, 5 April 2007, Cardiff University, UK.

2006: Conference: ‘Did somebody say ideology? Slavoj Zizek and the post-ideological universe’, 16-17 September, Cardiff University, UK.

Visiting Research Fellows

Hélène Cixous, Professor of English literature at the University of Paris VIII and the founder and director of the Centre d’Études Féminines.
Professor Cixous’ first visit to Cardiff was hosted by the research unit in December 2004. She returned to Cardiff in September 2007.

Jodi Dean, Professor of Political Science, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York. Professor Dean visited Cardiff in the summer of 2007 and continues her collaboration with colleagues leading the Cardiff Project for Ideology Analysis.

Mieke Bal, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences Professor and founder of the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis, University of Amsterdam. She gave her first lecture Thursday 15 January 2009: “Affect as Medium”.

Helmut Peitsch, Professor of German, University of Potsdam. Professor Peitsch visited Cardiff in July 2007 to give a key note address at the conference, ‘The Lost Decade: European History, Culture, Economy and Society’.

Current Group Members

Professor Alexis Nuselovici

Position: Co-ordinator Telephone: +44(0)29 2087 5602