Source: Compitum.
American Comparative Literature Association (ACLA) Annual Conference
Rome was
an empire built on translation. She developed a literary tradition through a
deliberate Latinization of Greek forms and incorporated art, culture and
technology from across her vast empire. Consequently, Rome has often served as
a symbol for translation and its dangers, a flashpoint for investigating the
perceived perils of incorporating foreign cultures and texts.
This seminar seeks to explore the topic of Rome in translation from both ancient and modern perspectives, asking how translation, broadly defined, has contributed to Rome's historical – and retrospective – rise and fall. We welcome papers that explore ancient Roman translation as well as papers that examine how translations have been mobilized to rethink and refashion Roman antiquity since the Roman empire's historical collapse: How did translation contribute to the evolution of Latin literature? How did ancient authors use translation to consolidate – and contest –evolving social and political identities? How was translation used during periods of political crisis or social collapse?
On the modern side, relevant questions might include: How has Rome's collapse been interpreted as a sign of the dangers of translation? How have modern translations been used as a tool for contesting Latin literary canons and creating modern ones? How have modern translators of Latin texts constructed particular images of Rome – or dismantled preexisting representations? How has Rome been reinterpreted for modern audiences through literature and other media?
We welcome paper proposals from scholars working in any period or field. Our hope is that the panel will prompt a dynamic interchange among scholars who focus on Roman antiquity and those who study ways in which Rome has been repurposed or reimagined in later periods.
This seminar is part of the ACLA 2012 conference. Please send any questions to Elizabeth Young, eyoung@wellesley.edu. Paper proposals (250 word max) should be submitted to the ACLA conference website. Indicate “Decline and Fall: Rome in Translation, Translation in Rome” as your seminar choice in the drop-down “Seminar” box. Deadline for submission is November 15th, 2011.
This seminar seeks to explore the topic of Rome in translation from both ancient and modern perspectives, asking how translation, broadly defined, has contributed to Rome's historical – and retrospective – rise and fall. We welcome papers that explore ancient Roman translation as well as papers that examine how translations have been mobilized to rethink and refashion Roman antiquity since the Roman empire's historical collapse: How did translation contribute to the evolution of Latin literature? How did ancient authors use translation to consolidate – and contest –evolving social and political identities? How was translation used during periods of political crisis or social collapse?
On the modern side, relevant questions might include: How has Rome's collapse been interpreted as a sign of the dangers of translation? How have modern translations been used as a tool for contesting Latin literary canons and creating modern ones? How have modern translators of Latin texts constructed particular images of Rome – or dismantled preexisting representations? How has Rome been reinterpreted for modern audiences through literature and other media?
We welcome paper proposals from scholars working in any period or field. Our hope is that the panel will prompt a dynamic interchange among scholars who focus on Roman antiquity and those who study ways in which Rome has been repurposed or reimagined in later periods.
This seminar is part of the ACLA 2012 conference. Please send any questions to Elizabeth Young, eyoung@wellesley.edu. Paper proposals (250 word max) should be submitted to the ACLA conference website. Indicate “Decline and Fall: Rome in Translation, Translation in Rome” as your seminar choice in the drop-down “Seminar” box. Deadline for submission is November 15th, 2011.