All-India Students’ Seminar

The Real, the Magical and the Virtual :

The representation of reality and the politics of representation

All-India Students’ Seminar

ASIHSS

and the Department of English

Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032.

March 9-10, 2011

The representation of the ‘real’ in literature has engendered much debate and dialogue, leading to

discussions on the use of the magical and the virtual in the various genres of literature. While

realistic representation is broadly considered to be adhering to a set of empirical rules, the

magical and the virtual may be perceived as extending the perimeter of realistic representation by

delineating and juxtaposing multiple planes and dimensions of reality. The magical and the

virtual interrogate the defined and discrete spaces of the real, the illusory and the fantastic, and

create a dialogue within these conceptual spaces. The magical and the virtual could also facilitate

a deeper and more nuanced understanding of reality while suggesting alternative, de-centred

perspectives and subversion. These varied modes of representation may also lead us to probe the

politics of representation itself. Whether used as a trope or even a narrative strategy, the magical

and the virtual have at times, especially in the Post-World War II period, evolved as an essential

feature of all literature.

Abstracts of not more than 300 words are invited from graduate and undergraduate students

(abstracts from doctoral candidates will not be accepted). The papers may address but need not

be limited to the areas suggested below:

1) The politics of realism

2) The use of the magical in literature

3) Representation of the ‘real’ in Modern, Pre-Modern and Post-Modern Literature

4) The real versus the fantastic in literature

5) Creating the ‘virtual’ in science fiction

6) Magical realism in literature

7) Myth as the magical in literature

8) Graphic novels

Abstracts may be e-mailed, with “JU Student Seminar Abstract” as the subject of the mail, to

either Dr. Nandini Saha (sahanandini7@gmail.com) or Dr. Sutanuka Ghosh

(sutanuka.ghosh@gmail.com) by 29 January 2011. The deadline will not be extended. Applicants

will be informed through email by 10 February if their paper has been selected for presentation.

The seminar will be held on 9 and 10 March 2011. Students can mail these addresses for further

information, or phone the Department at (033)24146681.