ICAS 2021 - 'Diaspora in the 21st Century'

Virtual Conference in Arts & Humanities | Thursday 28th - Saturday 30th January 2021

Hosted by Southern Regional College, Newry Campus, Northern Ireland

Traditionally, diaspora has been defined as the movement of people from their homeland and as such, has mostly centred on conversations of race and culture. Ties to these homelands can remain strong and are evident in all aspects of diasporic culture from language, ritual and identity. However, over the last 20 years, defining and classifying individuals in ‘the diaspora’ has become more complex, leading the way for an emergence of new concepts including environmental spaces, economic migration, sexuality, gender and many more. It seems that diasporic studies are ‘hybridising in new global conditions’ and it is this very globalisation that brings with it an entirely new set of perspectives on what it truly means to ‘belong’. Thus, ICAS 2021 asks: What does diaspora mean in the 21st Century?

Conference Programme

• Thursday 28th January (7-9pm)

The ICAS conference opens with a keynote paper from Dr. Melanie Otto on the literature of Caribbean diaspora, which is followed by Glen O’Sullivan’s paper on Afrofuturism, cultural appropriateness and the significance of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Panther. The final paper of the evening is from Dr. Gennaro Errichiello and his research on Diaspora and Belonging: The Pakistani middle-class migrants in Dubai.

• Friday 29th January (7-9pm)

Friday evening begins with a keynote paper from Prof. Sima Shakhsari on her work with Iranian refugees, which is followed by a round table talk with the playwright Anthony Russell and the cast of ‘The Trial of Darcy Magee’. A recording of their performance will be sent out in advance to all conference attendees and you are encouraged to post your questions in the event’s chat function. The evening ends with a paper from SRC’s Dr. Liz Finnigan entitled: ‘The Supernatural Diaspora: Lady Gregory’s folktales and the Irish Famine’.

• Saturday 30th January (12-2pm)

Saturday’s session opens with Tom Torley who shares his work on his new novel on the Irish Diaspora and its connection to the Native American diaspora. This is followed by Bennett Brazelton’s historical paper entitled: ‘On the Erasure of Black Indigeneity’. Next is SRC student, Fergus Frizzell, who presents a paper on the poetry of John Donne and the diaspora of love. The final paper of the day and the conference, is Dr. Michael Rodgers on literature and culture.

Online Booking

Whilst the conference is free, we do ask that you book tickets, which you can do here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/icas-21-tickets-131605480535 

Registered attendees will receive a link to their registered email address, closer to the event.

Please note that due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, all conference papers will be delivered virtually.

Contact us

For further information or advice, please feel free to get in touch with Dr. Liz Finnigan (Course Director, BA Hons History and English Literature, SRC) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Keynote Speakers