Sorbonne Abu Dhabi inaugurates international colloquium titled 'City, Life, Vision'

The colloquium is held at the premises of the woman union.

Attended the conference, H.E. Alain Azouaou, Ambassador of France to the UAE, H.E. Ms. Noura Khalifa Al Swaidi Head of the Union, Dr. Mohammed Al Aboodi Deputy Academic Director for PSUAD, and Dr. Anne Douaire Head of French language Department in the university and head of organization committee of the colloquium.

The colloquium was inaugurated by H.E. Ms. Noura Khalifa Al Swaidi who started by dedicating her sincere thanks to Um Al Imarat; Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, and expressed on behalf of the union her admiration of such a collaboration with Sorbonne that is characterized with a prestigious academic level aiming at exploring the cultural interaction between both countries.

Dr. Mohammed Al Aboodi stated:

"The concept of city reflects Life, and Life thrives a profound vision. This colloquium presents new controversial perspectives in scoping the city in literature, and the diversification in its impressions."

Dr. Anne Douaire added, "This colloquium comes within the framework of introducing cities and its history. It is our ultimate pleasure to be hosted by the union and to receive the very generous patronage from Um Al Imarat. One of the missions of PSUAD is to take part in the great cultural governmental development of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Therefore, PSUAD proudly announces the gathering of 20 scholars or researchers from different universities in Europe, Middle East, Maghreb, black Africa, Argentina, etc, who will speak and exchange perspectives on the literary visions of the cities. Speeches will be focused on many cities from Paris, to Casablanca, and from Moscow to Dubai, and to Tehran."

The first session; titled Voyages, Journeys and Stations; was headed by Anne Douaire-Banny, Associate Professor Sorbonne University Abu-Dhabi, C.I.E.F. This session scoped Crossed literary views: when Swahili bin Abakari writes about Petersburg and Moscow and Russian Goumiliev about Zanzibar and Tombouctou; by Dieudonné Gnammankou, Paris-Sorbonne, C.I.E.F. The online diaries of Ananda Devi at the meeting point of three genres: the trip diary (cities), the intimate diary (lives) and the literary blog (visions) was also discussed by Marie-Caroline MEUR, Phd student (C.I.E.F), Paris-Sorbonne, Teacher at the French School in Singapore.

The second session of the first day titled Impressions and Psyche was headed by Abdullah ÖZTÜRK, Professor, Selçuk University, Konya in Turkey. This session included Osirian genesis of literary cities by Beïda Chikhi, Professor, and Director of the Center for Francophone Studies (C.I.E.F), Paris-Sorbonne. Also, Constantine: palimpsest city was scoped by Rabah Nourredine SAADI, Professor, Artois University (France). Karima Yatribi, Professor from Hassan II University in Aïn Chok; Morocco discussed Mohamed Loakira: the city as mirage.

The third and last session on that day carried the theme and title Visions and Poetic Adventures, headed by Margaret Majumdar, Professor, Portsmouth University (United Kingdom). Kamel O. Mahadin, Professor of Architecture and writer lectured on Mediterranean Cities: visual thoughts. The city and the emergence of a new poetry genre in the French 19th century: prose poems; was discussed by Afifa Chaouachi, Professor at Manouba University, Tunis.

Samir 'Marzouki, Professor atManouba University is Tunisia discussed Urban adventure in the novel and poetry: from theme to poetic with Béchir Khraief and Guillaume Apollinaire. And lastly Stefania Cubedd; C.I.E.F., Lecturer at the Universities of Nantes, Angers and Paris-Sorbonne ended the day with her lecture titled Jacques Poulin and Italo Calvino, introduction to a cross reading of the city in literature.

It is worth noting that the colloquium showcased a number of controversial photographs taken by Pr. Yann Seweryn, a professor of French language at PSUAD, and a freelance photographer capturing different visions and perspectives of Paris. His photographs can be interpreted in many different and sometimes contradictive artistic ways.