University Professor changes our perception of Fictional Africa

Naturalism, Humanitarianism and the Fiction of War

Words by Graham Murray

Professor Eleni Coundouriotis of the University of Connecticut

ELENI COUNDOURIOTIS provided a fascinating talk centred on war novels in post-colonial Africa. The talk took place on the Monday evening 10^thDecember and was the third event in the humanities strand of this year’s research series for the Humanities. The professor of English from the University of Connecticut, addressed her talk around themes of naturalism, the discourse of humanitarianism and western perspectives on war in Africa. Her talk encompassed many of the humanities, incorporating elements of English literature & language, as well as politics and history.

Coundouriotis began the talk discussing humanitarian law. In this, she deliberated the issue surrounding the definition of war, given the fact it has no legal definition. She described war as not defined by actions of war, but by the actors of war. Beyond this, she spoke of humanitarianism in general – how it naturally takes the side of victims, and how “the discourse of humanitarianism is fundamentally a discourse of surrogacy”.

She turned her attention following this to the African war novel, identifying the fact that war had always been a present theme in African novels. She was also quick to point out how African war novels often challenge stereotypes of Africa being conflict ridden and dysfunctional. The talk focussed much on humanitarian narratives in these novels, and the so-called “politics of pity”. This means to say how the reader sympathises with the plight of the novel’s protagonists – yet it also distances them.

Coundouriotis identified four main motifs that heighten the impression an African war novel forms a distinct literary tradition – the ‘Song of my Country’, the male warrior as war personified, the ordeal in the forest and the perennial landscape.

               

Berthold Schoene, MMU professor of English and director of the Institute for Humanities and Social Science Research remarked that:

“The work of Professor Coundouriotis highlights the significant interplay within the Humanities between sociological research (human rights and their abuse around the world) and art (the literature of war in Africa).  Her analysis of war novels, and the role they play in “witnessing”, brings to life how Humanities research has the capacity to deepen our understanding of global suffering and conflict.”

All in all, Coundouriotis presented an interesting notion of how the African war novel is able to display another side to Africa as a whole, and was an excellent specimen of how the humanities can be so interlinked as subjects.

To find out about more upcoming Humanities Research events, please click here and to register your attendance to any of these events please click here

Queen Victoria Reigns Once Again

MMU Balloon Debate, Tuesday 4th December, 5pm, Geoffrey Manton Building.

Words by Graham Murray, photograph by Jason Cooke

QUEEN Victoria emerged victorious in the inaugural Humanities Languages and Social Science Balloon Debate, which was hailed as a great success. She overcame strong challenges from the likes of William Beveridge, Jane Addams, Martin Luther King and Hugo Chavez amongst others on the evening of Tuesday 4th December 2012.

In a ‘standing room only’ event in a buzzing Geoffrey Manton Atrium seven debaters stepped up to deliver their five minute statements: Daniel Kennelly from History, Rodrigue Mauambu from Politics, Hermione St. John Spiggott from Criminology, Max Igbon representing Sociology, Luci O’Grady from Languages, Jonathan Orrill from Public Services and Sara Collinson from English. 

After an audience vote, three finalists were selected for the final round: Max Igbon’s Jane Addams, Jonathan Orrill’s William Beveridge and Daniel Kennelly’s Queen Victoria, to enter into a question and answer session with the audience. 

Suffrage, sickness and sewage 

Max, a local student from Chorlton, had put forward a strong argument for 1931 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jane Addams, keen to stress her fight for women’s suffrage and changes in child labour laws. Jonathan’s increasingly confident performance remarked on the achievements of the 1942 Beveridge Report, most notably the NHS, and the five evils that Beveridge set out to destroy. Daniel was relaxed, confident and witty on stage, pointing to Victoria giving the vote to more than a million working class men, creation of London Sewage system and the achievements between her and Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. 

Tricky questions

The Q&A session provided some difficult questions for the finalists, including questions on Victoria’s role in the British Empire, what Sir Beveridge would think of today’s NHS, and why Addams was not a household name, despite her historical importance. All finalists navigated the question and answer stage with tact and good humour, clearly showing their enthusiasm and respect for their chosen figure. 

The three finalists all ended with a closing statement, with Max arguing that Addam’s 'impact had left a footprint today'. Daniel pointed to the fact Victoria is known around the world and oversaw the establishment of many civic systems and structures we still use today. Jonathan contended that Beveridge’s legacy was the most lasting, pointing to Victoria’s British Empire: "God Save the Queen? Yeah thanks for that," he said. 

'Embodiment of Britishness'

Daniel finished first, with Max coming a close second, and Jonathan third. Following the debate, all three said that despite the fact this was all their first time in debate, they would all love to do it again. The winner, Daniel Kennelly, remarked that he had chosen Queen Victoria as he saw her as the, “embodiment of Britishness”. 

Wonderful 

In an interview with Dr Janet Mather, who helped organise the event, she says: 

"It was wonderful to see so many people - staff and students - coming together for the     first ever Faculty event. I was immensely impressed by the quality of the champions' presentations, and also by the level of audience participation. In particular, it made me realise how proud we should be of our discipline. The champions had selected a wide range of people that had made extremely valuable contributions to the good of humanity - and all of them represented at least one aspect of humanities and social science. Without the kind of teaching carried out in the Faculty of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, these contributions would be undervalued and the world would be the poorer for it. May I express my admiration of the Dean, Dr Sharon Handley, too, as the first Dean to recognise the importance of engaging the staff and students throughout the Faculty in joint initiatives and being prepared to give so much support to this first one."

Historical figures set to face-off in debate

Tuesday, 4th December, Geoffrey Manton Building; Martin Luther King versus Hugo  Chavez in humanities event

Words by Graham Murray

EVER wondered what would happen if Martin Luther King went head-to-head with Hugo Chavez or Queen Victoria sparred with her contemporary Elizabeth Fry? The Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences Balloon debate could be your opportunity to find out. The debate is set to take place at 5pm on Tuesday, 4 December, in the atrium of the Geoffrey Manton building.

The debate is a celebration of the humanities as an academic field, demonstrating the diversity and ingenuity of historical figures of the humanities. Staff, students and alumni are needed to support their subject. The debate winner will receive an iPad and there will be refreshments, spot prizes and a raffle for audience members. 

Students from criminology, history, languages, philosophy, politics, public services and sociology will battle it out, representing an historical figure that best represents their field.

Audience vote

During the debate itself, each representative will be given five minutes to put forward their case as to why they should stay in the balloon. The audience, equipped with “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” style handsets, will then elect three figures to enter into the second round.

The second round will comprise of a question and answer session, with the audience given the opportunity to put forward questions to the speakers.  In the final round, speakers will make their final statements before handing over to the audience, who will decide the winner.

One of the organisers, Dr Janet Mather, Programme Leader BA (Hons) Politics, said: “I hope that it will show that the Faculty’s students have a keen awareness of the values of a Faculty of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, and the interconnectedness of the disciplines that make up that faculty”.

She added: “I am hoping that they will show that they can go beyond the concepts of their own particular discipline into the wider world of humanities and social science and that they can display the essential skills of communication, argument and presentation – again necessary in the world of increasing competitiveness in employment.”