On May 29, International Symposium on “The Study of Space in Contemporary France from Interdisciplinary Perspective”, held on Zijingang Campus of Zhejiang University, attracted experts and scholars from 17 universities such as University of Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris 3, Sorbonne University, University of Clermont-Auvergne, University of Burgundy, University of Toulouse, France, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy, Peking University, Nanjing University, Wuhan University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Zhejiang University. Attendees were from countries including China, France, Italy, Lebanon, Romania and Tunisia. Zhao Jia, Deputy Director of Institute of French Language and Culture of SIS presided over the opening ceremony, at which the attendees and the theme of the Symposium were introduced. Prof. Cheng Gong, Dean of SIS, was invited to give a speech.
After World War II, people’s interest in space was aroused by the demand for post-war reconstruction in European countries, polarized global politics, and the rise of national liberation movements around the world. Since the 1980s, all the countries have shown concerns about ecological issues due to emerging environmental problems; urbanization brought about many challenges; countries have started to seek their own identities in globalization, stimulating the reflection on and pursuit of local characteristics: people think more deeply about space for various reasons. The “space turn” in the study of Chinese and Western academia has influenced disciplines such as philosophy, sociology, anthropology and urban governance. Experts and scholars from different countries and fields were present to conduct discussions on “the Study of Space in Contemporary France” from literature, art, philosophy, history, etc., making the Symposium an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural communication.
The Symposium fell into five panel sessions. The session “Comparison of Space between Western and Chinese Literature” was presided over by Prof. Du Qinggang, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages and Literature of Wuhan University, also a renowned scholar and writer. ÉricLysøe, a professor from University of Clermont-Auvergne, writer and composer, demonstrated how night is presented in literature, music and paintings as a special space. Giovanni Dotoli, a professor from University of Bari Aldo Moro, poet and the laureate of France’s “Order of Academic Palms” analyzed the space in poetry. Liu Chengfu, a professor of Nanjing University, Vice President of Jiangsu Translators’ Association, Vice President of China French Language Education Association and Vice President of Chinese Research Society of African Affairs, illustrated the African space in L’Africain by Le Clézio, winner of Nobel Prize for Literature in 2008. Prof. Du Qinggang elucidated the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western views on space through “one”, “before and after”, “past and present” and “family”.
The session “The Philosopher’s Spatial Language and Color” was hosted by Prof. Giovanni Dotoli from University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy. Untea Ionut, a scholar from Romania and Zaki Beydoun, a scholar from Lebanon, interpreted the space from the philosophy of Paul Rico and Nietzsche respectively. Delphine Déjean, a doctoral student and designer from University of Toulouse showed her research on geospatial colors.
“Space in Visual Art” was presided over by Prof. Éric Lysøe from University of Clermont-Auvergne, France. Huang Heqing, a professor of School of Humanities, ZJU and distinguished scholar, presented the spatial changes in modern and contemporary art. Wu Yannan, a doctoral student of University of Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris 3, analyzed the reproduction of space in Henri Michaux’s paintings. Lu Yichen, a doctoral student of Peking University, explained the evolution of Roland Barthes’ photography theory and its relationship to space.
“Exotic and Local Space from the Historical Perspective” was hosted by Prof. Liu Chengfu from School of Foreign Studies, Nanjing University. With rich legends, Laurent Broche, a teacher of SIS, vividly expounded on some irrationalities which led to “Yellow Peril” in France in the early 20th century. Dr. Meng Yali, a teacher of Zhejiang International Studies University, explained the relationship between national and secular space on the basis of moral education of French public primary schools between 1880 to 1914. Dr. Meng Qingya, a teacher of Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, shared the interpretation of Roland Barthes on space in his Carnets du voyage en Chine. Ma Shasha, a doctoral student of Sorbonne University, France, illustrated the exotic customs in the mysterious island written by Sade, a French writer.
“Space in Novels, Poetry and Films” was presided over by Mrs. Shi Yeting, a teacher of Institute of French Language and Culture of SIS. Prof. Joël Loehr from University of Burgundy analyzed the image of wanderers and their spatial trajectory in the novelsby Jean Echenoz, laureate of Prix Goncourt (a prize for works of French fiction). Maxime Philippe, a researcher from Sun Yat-Sen University, studied the space written by Edouard Glissant from concept, writing and living. Bie Zhi, a postdoctoral student of Sun Yat-Sen University, pointed out the poetic space in Joel Bousquet’s works is a space of movement, wisdom and collision. Dr. AsmaMaaref Zgueb from Gamma Film and Television Academy, Tunisia and Dr. Ines Ben Khmiss Debiche from College of Advanced Design Science and Technology, Tunisia introduced the technological progress and the construction of virtual space in films.
The attendees had a heated discussion on each topic after lectures and shared their views. The Symposium explored the “space” from multiple fields, disciplines and perspectives with diversified methods. The wonderful speeches provided new ideas for space study and became a bridge between China and the west in the studies of space thoughts.
Written by Song Yating
Institute of French Language and Culture
School of International Studies of ZJU
May 11, 2019
Translated by Liu Liu and Cai Sihui
Edited by Xu Xueying
