ICAS 2021

Sixth Annual Interdisciplinary Conference in Arts and Science

Virtual Conference

‘Diaspora in the 21st Century: where are we?’

Thursday 28th January 7-9pm ~ Friday 29th January 7-9pm ~ Saturday 30th January 12-2pm

Southern Regional College, Newry, Northern Ireland

Keynote speakers: Professor Sima Shakhsari, University of Minnesota and Dr. Melanie Otto, Trinity College, Dublin.

Traditionally, diaspora has defined as the movement of people from their homeland and as such, has mostly centred on conversations of race and culture. Ties to these homelands can remain strong and are evident in all aspects of diasporic culture from language, ritual, and identity. However, over the last 20 years, defining and classifying individuals in ‘the diaspora’ has become more complex leading the way for an emergence of new concepts including: environmental spaces, economic migration, sexuality, gender and many more. It seems that diasporic studies are ‘hybridizing in new global conditions’ and it is this very globalisation that brings with it an entirely new set of perspectives on what it truly means to ‘belong’.

Thus, ICAS 21, asks: What does diaspora mean in the 21st Century?

Conference Programme:

Thursday 28th January (7-9pm)

The ICAS conference opens with a keynote paper from Dr. Melanie Otto on the literature of Caribbean diaspora, which is followed by Glen O’Sullivan’s paper on Afrofuturism, cultural appropriateness and the significance of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Panther. The final paper of the evening is from Dr. Gennaro Errichiello and his research on Diaspora and Belonging: The Pakistani middle-class migrants in Dubai.

Friday 29th January (7-9pm)

Friday evening begins with a keynote paper from Prof. Sima Shakhsari on her work with Iranian refugees, which is followed by a round table talk with the playwright Anthony Russell and the cast of ‘The Trial of Darcy Magee’. A recording of their performance will be sent out in advance to all conference attendees and you are encouraged to post your questions in the event’s chat function. The evening ends with a paper from SRC’s Dr. Liz Finnigan entitled: ‘The Supernatural Diaspora: Lady Gregory’s folktales and the Irish Famine’.

Saturday 30th January (12-2pm)

Saturday’s session opens with Tom Torley who shares his work on his new novel on the Irish Diaspora and its connection to the Native American diaspora. This is followed by Bennett Brazelton’s historical paper entitled: ‘On the Erasure of Black Indigeneity’. Next is SRC student, Fergus Frizzell, who presents a paper on the poetry of John Donne and the diaspora of love. The final paper of the day and the conference, is Dr. Michael Rodgers on literature and culture.

Tickets are free and all are welcome.

Due to current Covid restrictions, all papers will be delivered virtually. Questions? Contact Dr. Liz Finnigan at: finniganl@src.ac.uk