“Unveiling Layers of Memory: Exploring Postcolonial and Post-Imperial Narratives in Central and Eastern Europe”

June 21st from 10:00 to 13:00 at INALCO in the Georges Dumézil auditorium, 2, rue de Lille, 75007 Paris. 

Participants: Joanna Wawrzyniak (university of Warsaw), Tomasz Zarycki (university of Warsaw), Dirk Uffelmann (university of Giessen).

Discussant: Michèle Baussant (CNRS, Institut des sciences sociales du politique).

Lien Zoom :

https://pantheonsorbonne.zoom.us/j/99799870992?pwd=2SybibhNREV3bArLF32VzgLIUbF9TQ.1

ID de réunion: 997 9987 0992
Code secret: 194098

While Central and Eastern Europe is often celebrated for its rich cultural heritage and historical resilience, it has a complex history that intertwines with colonial and imperial forces. Countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, experienced partitions, foreign occupations, or domination within larger empires, throughout the 19th century, which means that the construction of national identities predated the establishment of independent states. National independences were obtained following WWI, only to be contested again during WWII and the communist period, under Nazi and/or Soviet domination. Such experiences of contested statehood and nationhood have left indelible marks on collective memory.
 
It is imperative that we turn our attention to the layers of memory that have shaped national narratives in the aftermath of colonial and imperial experiences. As we explore these historical nuances, we must analyze the impact of colonization on the national belonging processes and identities.
 
The aftermath of colonization often brings forth a struggle for identity and a reclamation of cultural heritage. In the CEE context, how have nations grappled with the remnants of colonial rule, knowing that their own history is also linked to colonial projects, like in the case of Poland for instance. Exploring the voices of marginalized communities and their attempts to reconstruct a sense of self in the wake of colonial legacies is paramount.
 
Moving beyond colonization, CEE’s experience with imperialism needs also to be examined. How does Poland navigate the complexities of post-imperial memory, its own as an imperial power before the partition period, and the more recent experience as a dominated territory (by the Soviet Union, or even by the European Union). What narratives refer to the postcolonial discourse, and how do they contribute to shaping contemporary societies in CEE?
In this context, art, literature, and cinema serve as powerful mediums through which a society reflects upon and processes its history. Investigating the representation of postcolonial and post-imperial themes in cultural productions provides us with insights into the ways these narratives are disseminated, challenged, or reinforced.