[Reader-list] [Announcements] AUTUMN SCHOOL ON THE 'ORAL' AS RESOURCE AT INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDY

[Mitoo Das]

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDY
Rashtrapati Nivas,
Shimla 171005
Announcing Autumn School on
The `Oral' as Resource
       Literacy and writing have lately been so dominant in our 
societies that we are largely unaware of the presence and influence of 
orality and its potential as a field of study. While the literate and 
formal discourse is dominated by power and hierarchy, the oral often 
expresses, counter-hegemonic tendencies subverting the asymmetric social 
norms.
Although the oral culture does not necessarily preclude knowledge of 
literacy, it manifests itself primarily through the channels of oral 
performance. Oral discourses have wide circulation in many communities 
whereby alternate belief and knowledge systems are constructed and 
communicated. In a multilingual and multivocal country like India, the 
oral often crosses language borders. It is necessary to bridge the 
cultural difference between orality and literacy and highlight the oral 
as indigenous epistemology informing the multifarious cultural 
practices. With this in view a two week Autumn School is proposed to be 
held at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, from 3 November 
to 16 November 2008,
The Autumn School will be conducted by eminent scholars from several 
disciplines who will explore the various aspects of oral culture such as 
oral narratives, ethnography of popular lore, oral as symbolic form of 
solidarity and resistance, folk wisdom communicated through the oral, 
social function of proverbs, rumours and gossip, oral/written interface, 
the use of oral in literature, katha-vachana, oral history, partition 
memoirs, oral testimony and narratives of riot victims and survivors, etc.
Applications are invited from young college/university teachers from the 
Humanities and Social Sciences that make use of the 'oral' as a 
pedagogical tool. A batch of 25 participants will be selected from 
amongst the applicants. Those interested may send their bio-data (that 
should include their academic qualifications, experience, research 
interests and areas of specialisation) along with a note of 200-250 
words regarding the nature of their proposed participation and how they 
could contribute to the understanding of the 'oral' as a resource.
All expenses will be borne by the IIAS. This is the first Autumn School 
and is planned to become a regular annual academic activity. 
Applications For the above programme must reach the IIAS by 15 September 
2008. Those selected will be informed by 30 September 2008. Applications 
may be sent by e-mail to scaikant at rediffmail.com and proiias at gmail.com 
or by post to:

Professor Satish C. Aikant
Convenor
Autumn School on: The 'Oral' as Resource
Indian Institute of Advanced Study Rashtrapati Nivas Shimla - 171005


You can also see this announcement on the following link: 
http://www.iias.org/autumn_School.html
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