Program released for the 15th Biennial Modern Greek Studies Conference

The Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand (MGSAANZ), in collaboration with the University of Sydney’s Department of Modern Greek Studies, will host its 15th Biennial Conference on December 5-7, 2024. Titled ‘After the Crisis, Where to? Discussing Modern Greek Studies in the Age of Uncertainty,’ the event will take place at the University of Sydney.

Convened by Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Sir Nicholas Laurantus Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies at USYD, and Associate Professor Anthony Dracopoulos, Chair of the Discipline of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies at USYD, the conference aims to explore the future of Modern Greek studies in Australia, nearly six years after its last gathering.

The event will bring together academics, researchers, writers, and cultural figures to discuss key topics, including the teaching of the Modern Greek language, current academic research trends, and the publication of Greek literature. The conference will also focus on new creative writing, politics, culture, and art, with an emphasis on the Greek Australian diaspora’s contributions to visual arts, literary writing, music and cultural performance.

In addition, the conference will dedicate a significant portion of its discussions to the works of Greek Australian authors, including books published in both Greek and English. It will also honour the legacies of recently passed literary figures, such as Dimitris Tsaloumas and Antigone Kefala.

The conference promises to be a comprehensive examination of Modern Greek studies, reflecting on past challenges and looking forward to new opportunities for growth and cultural exchange in the years ahead.

Program highlights

Day 1: Thursday, December 5

The day will commence with a focus on Cornelius Castoriadis. Topics include:

• “The Two Castoriadis’s” by Prof. Peter Murphy.
• “Castoriadis and the Project of Critique” by Prof. Craig Browne.
• “Castoriadis on the Creation of Monstrosity” by Dr Jodie Heap.
• “Castoriadis and Guy Debord: Against the Tyranny of Images” by Prof. Vrasidas Karalis.

A post-graduate session will feature emerging scholars presenting on topics ranging from Byzantine culture and Greek foreign policy to contemporary Greek cinema.

Day 2: Friday, December 6

Friday focuses on language, literature, and cultural identity:

• “Modern Greek as a Second Language” by Patricia Trifylis.
• “Greek in an AI World” by Peter Pontikis.
• Keynote speaker Prof. Katerina Kostiou will delve into “C.P. Cavafy’s Construction of Poetic Personae.”

Additional sessions explore diasporic narratives, AI implications for Greek language education, and literary contributions from Greek Australian writers.

Day 3: Saturday, December 7

The final day explores pedagogy, migration, and cultural storytelling:

• “Greek Language Learning at La Trobe University” by Dr Stavroula Nikoloudis.
• “Modern Greek Education in the AI Era” by Dr Patricia Koromvokis.
• “Communicating Identities in Digital Spaces” by Dr Melina Mallos.

The conference concludes with discussions on diasporic identity and storytelling, featuring sessions like “Hellenic Dreaming” by Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos and a panel on publishing in the diaspora.

This gathering promises to be a pivotal event for academics, educators, and cultural actors passionate about the future of Modern Greek Studies.

Full program:

For more details, contact Prof. Vrasidas Karalis at Vrasidas.Karalis@sydney.edu.au or Assoc. Prof. Anthony Dracopoulos at Anthony.Dracopoulos@sydney.edu.au.