European Capital of Culture Istanbul will be the host of European Writers Parliament (EWP), the largest international literary event in its history from 25th November to 27th November 2010. The idea of assembling European authors in one of the most inspiring and unique metropolises in the world, to share their knowledge and perspective through a series of discussions on topics of relevance to today's literary scene was introduced by literary giants José Saramago and Orhan Pamuk at a meeting on 18th May 2007 in Istanbul. As organisers, we are taking one step forward to the realization of this idea, which we conceive as an imperative to linking cultural resources and heritage. Europe's leading writers, literary editors and critics, alongside senior representatives of the European Union and European Council will appear in Istanbul within the scope of European Writers Parliament to discuss the future of literature.
Literature today maintains its position as a distinguished element in the culture industry. Literary products, especially novels are being incessantly standardized and transformed into disposable commodities purchased by masses through colossal advertising campaigns and highly commercial PR stunts. In this commission, we aim to discuss the cultural commoditisation of books, literature that is specifically tailored for mass consumption, and the relevance of literature in a post-industrial society.
The 20th century phenomenon of globalisation has greatly influenced classical concepts such as ethnicity, nationality, religion, ideology, culture and class. As a result, new literary texts expand the conventional boundaries of literature where hybridity and multi-rootedness are increasingly prevalent. In this commission, we aim to discuss the impact of such phenomenon on European literature through various disciplines and literary genres to reconfigure the boundaries of European literature.
Literature is going through one of the greatest economic and technological transformations since the 18th century. What exactly is the impact of the digital age on literature in a world where screen is rapidly replacing paper? In this commission, we aim to discuss how such developments and digital platforms influence literature, new literary forms and trends in the digital era, and digital literature and authorship.
As internationalism and globalization ever-increasingly erodes the concept of nation-state, giving room for multi-national and multi-lingual states to emerge, literature inevitably takes it share. In this commission, we aim to understand the influence of multiculturalism on European literature and discuss concepts such as exile, minority and émigré literature, hybridity, globalisation and identity.