DDGC Reading Group
Conveners: Krsna Santos, Adrienne Merritt, and Ervin Malakaj
The goal of this reading group is to create an environment where scholars come together to discuss texts that inform their scholarship, curatorial work, pedagogy, activism, and other activities.
In our inaugural reading group we will consider the links between diaspora and German studies. We particularly want to foreground and learn from the recent work by scholars of color and think along with them about how we approach diasporic communities with a connection to the German-speaking world.
Who can join? We welcome people working at all stages of their careers. However, we would especially welcome scholars who work on diaspora studies broadly conceived. We anticipate that some interested participants might not be able to attend all the meetings. You’d be welcome to join us even if you are only available for a couple of the scheduled meetings.
Since this reading group will be active over the summer, the intention is to ask participants to read a chapter (see reading schedule below) in preparation for the meeting. The group will then meet to discuss the reading in a seminar-style conversation.
The group will provisionally meet for 6 weeks. However, we anticipate that there might be interest to form a sustained research collective on the topic of diaspora studies or related fields.
Texts
Reading Schedule
Week 1, July 9, 2021, 2–3 pm EST: Introduction (Figueroa-Vásquez)
Week 2, July 16, 2–3pm EST: Ch 1, “Intimacies” (Figueroa-Vásquez)
Week 3, July 23, 2–3pm EST: Introduction (Florvil)
Week 4, July 30, 2–3pm EST: Ch 1, “Black German Women and Audre Lorde” (Florvil)
Week 5, August 6, 2–3pm EST: Ch 1, “The Wake” (Sharpe)
Week 6, August 13, 2–3pm EST: Ch 2, “The Ship” (Sharpe)
How to Sign Up
The sign up period for the group is over. If you have any questions about the group (including about joining late), send an email to each of the organizers. We will use zoom to meet on the dates outlined above. You will receive a zoom link in due course.
How to Get the Materials
We ask that you acquire the books on your own or that you use your institutional or local libraries to access them. The texts are available as eBooks or as PDF through a number of databases. If you are unable to access them for whatever reason but still want to participate, please reach out to us and we will figure out a solution.
Contact
Adrienne Merritt (merrit4 [at] stolaf [dot] edu
Ervin Malakaj (ervin.malakaj [at] ubc [dot] ca
Krsna Santos (santoskr [at] msu [dot] edu
Conveners: Krsna Santos, Adrienne Merritt, and Ervin Malakaj
The goal of this reading group is to create an environment where scholars come together to discuss texts that inform their scholarship, curatorial work, pedagogy, activism, and other activities.
In our inaugural reading group we will consider the links between diaspora and German studies. We particularly want to foreground and learn from the recent work by scholars of color and think along with them about how we approach diasporic communities with a connection to the German-speaking world.
Who can join? We welcome people working at all stages of their careers. However, we would especially welcome scholars who work on diaspora studies broadly conceived. We anticipate that some interested participants might not be able to attend all the meetings. You’d be welcome to join us even if you are only available for a couple of the scheduled meetings.
Since this reading group will be active over the summer, the intention is to ask participants to read a chapter (see reading schedule below) in preparation for the meeting. The group will then meet to discuss the reading in a seminar-style conversation.
The group will provisionally meet for 6 weeks. However, we anticipate that there might be interest to form a sustained research collective on the topic of diaspora studies or related fields.
Texts
- Yomaira C Figueroa-Vásquez, Decolonizing Diasporas: Radical Mappings of Afro-Atlantic Literature. Northwestern University Press, 2020. https://nupress.northwestern.edu/9780810142428/
- Tiffany N. Florvil, Mobilizing Black Germany: Afro-German Women and the Making of a Transnational Movement. University of Illinois Press, 2020. https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/46ert7cs9780252043512.html
- Christina Sharpe, In the Wake: On Blackness and Being. Duke University Press, 2018. https://www.dukeupress.edu/in-the-wake
Reading Schedule
Week 1, July 9, 2021, 2–3 pm EST: Introduction (Figueroa-Vásquez)
Week 2, July 16, 2–3pm EST: Ch 1, “Intimacies” (Figueroa-Vásquez)
Week 3, July 23, 2–3pm EST: Introduction (Florvil)
Week 4, July 30, 2–3pm EST: Ch 1, “Black German Women and Audre Lorde” (Florvil)
Week 5, August 6, 2–3pm EST: Ch 1, “The Wake” (Sharpe)
Week 6, August 13, 2–3pm EST: Ch 2, “The Ship” (Sharpe)
How to Sign Up
The sign up period for the group is over. If you have any questions about the group (including about joining late), send an email to each of the organizers. We will use zoom to meet on the dates outlined above. You will receive a zoom link in due course.
How to Get the Materials
We ask that you acquire the books on your own or that you use your institutional or local libraries to access them. The texts are available as eBooks or as PDF through a number of databases. If you are unable to access them for whatever reason but still want to participate, please reach out to us and we will figure out a solution.
Contact
Adrienne Merritt (merrit4 [at] stolaf [dot] edu
Ervin Malakaj (ervin.malakaj [at] ubc [dot] ca
Krsna Santos (santoskr [at] msu [dot] edu
