Bernardo Atxaga Chair in New York analyses the contribution of Basque culture to peaceful coexistence

The annual academic programme of the Bernardo Atxaga Chair at City University of New York (CUNY) will take place this year from October 7 to 11. This year a seminar will focus on the contribution of Basque culture and literature to peace and reconciliation through innovative processes. The seminar will be given by Annabel Martín, Associate Professor at Dartmouth College, and expert in contemporary Spanish culture.

The annual academic programme of the Bernardo Atxaga Chair at City University of New York (CUNY) will take place this year from October 7 to 11. This year a seminar will focus on the contribution of Basque culture and literature to peace and reconciliation through innovative processes. The seminar will be given by Annabel Martín, Associate Professor at Dartmouth College, and expert in contemporary Spanish culture.

The seminar, entitled “Bullets and Letters: Post-ETA Euskadi and the Arts”, is designed for doctoral and master students. Topics will include the paradigms that govern nationalist discourses, the gendered relation between identity and violence, and the role the arts (literature, film, painting, and sculpture) can play in peace and reconciliation.

From this perspective, the material used for the seminar will include documents and interviews by former ETA militants and victims; literature by Bernardo Atxaga, Luisa Etxenike and Ramon Saizarbitoria; films and documentaries by Julio Medem, Eterio Ortega Santillana, Asier and Amaia Merino, and Helena Taberna; and artwork by Vicente Ameztoy and Agustín Ibarrola. The seminar will also have writers Luisa Etxenike and Bernardo Atxaga, filmmaker Helena Taberna and ETA mediator Esther Pascual in conversation – Etxenike in person and the others by video conference.

On October 11, Annabel Martín will deliver a lecture open to the public titled “Palabras con piel, oídos que hablan: La búsqueda del Otro en los procesos de justicia restaurativa” (Words with skin, ears that speak: The search for the Other in processes of restorative justice)

In 2011, the Etxepare Basque Institute launched the Bernardo Atxaga Chair, designed mainly to promote research and a better understanding of the Basque language and literature. Bernardo Atxaga himself inaugurated the chair to offer students a PhD level programme taught by expert guest lecturers.