Multilingualism in Modernism and the Avant-Garde

In recent years, scholars have sought to explore modernism and the avant-garde in a broad international setting and outside of the well-known centers. The attempt to decenter the study of modernism and the avant-gardes has led to a more interdisciplinary understanding of these movements from art history and literature to film studies, translation, architecture, music, and the performative arts. This seminar adopts a transnational approach to the history of modernism and the avant-gardes and invites participants to explore multilingual practices in the field. Its aim is to provide a better understanding of multilingualism in poetry, literature, and the arts, and open up new avenues for reflection on its impact and challenges. Focus will be given to both the aesthetics of the interwar period and to the neo, post, and contemporary avant-gardes that emerged after the Second World War. To provide possibilities for comparative research, we encourage participants to explore a diverse corpus of texts focusing on languages and works in and outside Europe.In recent years, scholars have sought to explore modernism and the avant-garde in a broad international setting and outside of the well-known centers. The attempt to decenter the study of modernism and the avant-gardes has led to a more interdisciplinary understanding of these movements from art history and literature to film studies, translation, architecture, music, and the performative arts. This seminar adopts a transnational approach to the history of modernism and the avant-gardes and invites participants to explore multilingual practices in the field. Its aim is to provide a better understanding of multilingualism in poetry, literature, and the arts, and open up new avenues for reflection on its impact and challenges. Focus will be given to both the aesthetics of the interwar period and to the neo, post, and contemporary avant-gardes that emerged after the Second World War. To provide possibilities for comparative research, we encourage participants to explore a diverse corpus of texts focusing on languages and works in and outside Europe.C