Conference Program: Durrell on Rhodes
On Miracle Ground XIII
Durrell on Rhodes: The Spirit of Myth
The International Lawrence Durrell Conference
Rhodes, Greece
Sunday, June 27-Friday, July 2, 2004
Sessions & Events
The academic sessions will take place in the classroom building of the University of the Aegean on Rhodes (to the left, just inside the main entrance), 1 Dimokratias Avenue. The rooms for each session are indicated here as A or B and will be marked accordingly on site. Maps showing the locations of all other events will be provided.
Changes, announcements, and detailed information about excursions will be posted near the University meeting rooms. Busses for the excursions will leave from the University.
Sunday, June 27
6:00-8:00 P.M. INFORMAL GATHERING
Acteon Cafe, Mondraki Harbor, Rhodes
Monday, June 28
8:00-9:15 A.M. REGISTRATION
University of the Aegean
9:30-10:00 A.M. OPENING CEREMONIES
University of the Aegean (A)
Presiding: Paul H. Lorenz, Conference Chair
Greetings: J. Maherides, Prefect of Rhodes; G. Giannopoulous, Mayor of Rhodes; and representatives from the University of the Aegean on Rhodes
10:00-11:30 A.M. PLENARY SESSION (A)
The Spirit of Myth
Moderator: Paul H. Lorenz, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, U.S.A.
"The Magic Ring of Myth: Durrell & Imagination." Jane Eblen Keller for Carol Peirce, University of Baltimore, U.S.A.
"Clea as Myth, Justine as Event: Subjectivity & Deixis." Linda Stump Rashidi, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
"Diving into the Depths & Surfacing: The Labyrinthian Search for Psyche & Soul." Jean Bradford, Goucher College, Baltimore, U.S.A.
11:45 A.M.-1:00 P.M. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Rhodes, Real & Imagined (A)
Moderator: Constance Rivemale, Rhodes, Greece
"Fusing Myth & History in the 'blithe air of Rhodes': Durrell's Aphrodite & the Elemental Landscapes of Greek Islands." Anastasia Logotheti, Deree College, The American College of Greece, Athens
"D'Avenant & Durrell & the Sieges of Rhodes: History as Palimpsest." Pauline Beard, Pacific University, Oregon, U.S.A.
"The Short Life of Techi Magazine," Litsa Papathanassi, Stegi Grammaton Kai Technon Dodekanissou, Rhodes, Greece
Islomanic Discoveries: Rhodes, Kalymnos & Corfu (B)
Moderator: Richard A. Hood, Denison University, Ohio, U.S.A.
"The 'Inner Myth': A Few Reflections about the Marine Venus." Konstantinos Gkountis, Université de Paris XII, Val de Marne, France
"Moon Goddess or Sun God?: An Archaic Kouros on Kalymnos." Faith Warn, Kalymnos, Greece
"Ink, Oil & Water: Echoes from Greece." Marth Minford Meas, Rockport Center for the Arts, Texas, U.S.A.
6:45 P.M. VISIT TO THE VILLA CLEOBOLUS
Guide: Litsa Papathanassi, Stegi Grammaton Kai Technon Dodekanissou, Rhodes, Greece
Exhibit: "The Photographs of Mary Mollo"
7:30 P.M. AN EVENING WITH EDMUND KEELEY
Nestorideion Melathron, Museum of Contemporary Greek Art
Moderator: Ian MacNiven, Athens, New York, U.S.A.
Greetings: Kostos Skandalidis, President, International Writers & Translators Center of Rhodes (IWTCR); Spiros Syropoulos, IWTCR and the University of the Aegean on Rhodes; Lee Minaidis, Office of the Mayor, Rhodes; and Marina Boni, Director of Nestorideion Melathron
Reflections and Readings: Edmund Keeley, Princeton University, U.S.A., and Athens, Greece; Respondent David Roessel, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
This event is generously sponsored and organized by the International Writers & Translators Center of Rhodes.
Tuesday, June 29
9:00-10:15 a.m. Plenary Session (A)
The Avignon Quintet: Myths & Meanings
Moderator: James R. Nichols, Georgia Southern University (Emeritus), Statesboro, U.S.A.
"On the Suchness of the Old Boy: The Quintet Revisited." Paul H. Lorenz, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, U.S.A.
"The Myth of Ptah & the Structure of The Avignon Quintet." Fiona Tomkinson, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
10:30-11:30 A.M. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Myth, Muse & Poetry (A)
Moderator: Virginia Kirby-Smith Carruthers, University of Baltimore, U.S.A.
"Durrell's Poetry on Classic Sites: Underwater Muses in the Feminine Greek Tradition." John Maynard, New York University, New York City, U.S.A.
"George Seferis & the Dangerous Power of Myth." Anthony Hirst, Queen's University, Belfast, Ireland
Pope Joan & Pope Joan (B)
Moderator: Stefano Adami, University of California Education Abroad Program and University for Foreigners, Siena, Italy
"In Contemplation of Durrell's Pope Joan." Kathryn Radford, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
"The Myth of Pope Joan, Emmanuel Roidis & Durrell." Panayotis Gerontopoulos, Loutra Edipsou, Euobea, Greece
11:45 A.M.-12:45 P.M. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Happy Birthday: Tropic of Cancer: (A)
Moderator: Jane Eblen Keller, University of Baltimore, U.S.A.
"Tropic of Cancer at 70: Spiraling toward the Self." James M. Decker, The Franciscan University, Iowa, U.S.A.
"Seventy Years with the 'Last Novel': On Miller's Tropic of Cancer 1934." Finn Jensen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Algorithms & Literature (B)
Moderator: James Gifford, University of Alberta, Canada
"The Measure of Belief: Application of Probability & Computation to the Interpretation of Narrative (or How to Read Like Markov & Bayes)." Brien P. Williams, Cisco Systems, Voice Technology Group, New York City, U.S.A.
"Multiviewpoint Narration: From Durrell to Picture Book & Electronic Literature." Angela Yannicopoulou, University of the Aegean on Rhodes, Greece
3:00 P.M. EXCURSION TO LINDOS
"Lindos, under the sweetness of its decoration, is like a trumpet-call, beaten out in gold-leaf and vibrating across the blue airs of time."
Reflections on a Marine Venus
Wednesday, June 30
9:00-10:15 A.M. PLENARY SESSION (A)
International Reach & Significance
Moderator: Jane Eblen Keller, University of Baltimore, U.S.A.
"Durrell's American Publishers: Hits & Misses & the Survival of Reputation." Ian S. MacNiven, Athens, New York, U.S.A.
"Durrell Contra: 'The Good European.'" John Rose, Goucher College, Baltimore, U.S.A.
10:30-11:45 A.M. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Mediterranean Myths (A)
Moderator: Helen Wussow, New York University, New York City, U.S.A.
"Durrell & the Mediterranean Myth." Carla Comellini, University of Trieste, Italy
"'The Length & Greatness of its History': The Mediterranean Spirit of Travel & Myth of Place in Durrell's Family of Novels." James M. Clawson, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
"Trembling on the Edge of Disappearance: Mythology, Meaning & Boundary in the Durrellian Sea." Richard A. Hood, Denison University, Ohio, U.S.A.
Society & Culture, East & West (B)
Moderator: Shelly Ekhtiar, Potomac, Maryland, U.S.A.
"From Aberrations to Liberation: Sex in the Quintet." C. Ravindran Nambiar, Kerala, India
"Cosmopolitan Culture in the Society of Alexandria." Yannis Papadopoulos, University of the Aegean on Rhodes, Greece
"The Dissipation of the Myth of the Bloody Orient in P.H. Newby's Revolution and Roses." Mona Sallam, Academy of Arts, Giza, Egypt
12 NOON-1:15 P.M. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
The Personal Mythology of Poetry (A)
Moderator: Pamela J. Francis, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana, U.S.A.
"Missionary Man, Man of Mystery: A Reading of 'Frangbrand: A Biography.'" Virginia Kirby-Smith Carruthers, University of Baltimore, U.S.A.
"Durrell's Poems as a Key to the Mythology of Place." Joe Bratcher, Host Publications, Inc. New York City, U.S.A.
"Durrell's 'Egyptian' Poetry: A Key to the Quartet." Michael Diboll, United Arab Emirates
Sexuality, Sensuality & Women (B)
Moderator: Norman Bradford, Goucher College, Baltimore, U.S.A.
"Sexuality, Identity & the Urban-Rural Divide in Durrell's Novels." James Gifford, University of Alberta, Canada
"Threads of Desire: The Kamasutra & The Alexandria Quartet." Helen Wussow, New York University, New York City, U.S.A.
"Durrell's Failed Women." James R. Nichols, Georgia Southern University (Emeritus), Statesboro, U.S.A.
7:30 P.M. HAPPY HOUR
Hotel Andreas, Odos Omirou 28D (between Omirou 23 and 20), Old Town
Thursday, July 1
9:00-10:15 A.M. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
A Trio of Quartet Characters (A)
Moderator: Anna Lillios, University of Central Florida, U.S.A.
"Scobie to El Scob: An Exercise in Mythological Analysis." Kathleen Foran, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, U.S.A.
"Owed on a Grecian Urn: The Poet & the Photograph." Beatrice Skordili, Syracuse University, New York, U.S.A., and New York College, Athens, Greece
"'.in the early stages this should not have a political character': A Fanonian Understanding of Narouz in The Alexandria Quartet." Pamela J. Francis, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana, U.S.A.
Bitter Lemons Revisited (B)
Moderator: Brewster Chamberlin, Key West, Florida, U.S.A.
"The Narrator in Bitter Lemons." Mona H. Monès, Cairo University, Egypt
"The Empire Writes Back: Costas Montis's Closed Doors & Rodis Roufos's The Age of Bronze." Petra Tournay-Theodotou, Cyprus College, Nicosia
"Enosis & the Historic Landscape of Cyprus." Nabil Abdel-Al, United Nations, New York City, U.S.A.
10:30-11:30 A.M. CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Mythic Meanings (A)
Moderator: Stacey Polemikos University of the Aegean on Rhodes, Greece
"The Labyrinth Myth in The Dark Labyrinth." Giulia Pissarello, Universita degli Studi de Sassari, Italy
"Vision in Long Darkness: The Black Virgins of Medieval France." Zoé d'Ay, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Letters & Loves (B)
Moderator: Pauline Beard, Pacific University, Oregon, U.S.A.
"Some More Unpublished Durrell Letters." Panos Karagiorgos, Ionian University, Corfu, Greece
"Rhodes: What Durrell Saw & Loved." Titsa Pipinou, Rhodes, Greece
11:45 A.M.-1:15 P.M. PLENARY SESSION (A)
Reminiscences Verbal & Visual
Moderator: Ian S. MacNiven, Athens, New York, U.S.A.
Panel Discussion: Penelope Durrell-Hope, Lindos, Rhodes, and Whitney-on-Wye, Hereford, England; Dr. A. Raymond Mills, University of Edinburgh (Emeritus), Scotland; Spyro Katexis, Rhodes, Greece; and Zoë Woolrych York, Rhodes, Greece
Film: "Postcard from Soroni," produced and presented by Penelope Durrell-Hope
3:00-4:00 P.M. BUSINESS MEETING, DURRELL SOCIETY (A)
Presiding: Paul H. Lorenz, Secretary/Treasurer, International Lawrence Durrell Society
8:00 P.M. BANQUET
Alexis 4 Seasons Restaurant, Old Town
Readings: The annual White Mice contest winners
Awards: Recognition of special achievements
Friday, July 2
9:15-10:45 A.M. PLENARY SESSION (A)
Durrell & the Greek World: The Idea, the Reality & the New Book
Moderator: Anna Lillios, University of Central Florida, U.S.A.
Panel Discussion: Pauline Beard, Michael Diboll, Anthony Hirst, Jane Eblen Keller, John Rose, and Petra Tourney-Theodotou, contributors to Lawrence Durrell and the Greek World, edited by Anna Lillios, Susquehanna University Press, 2004
11:00 A.M. EXCURSION TO "CAMEIRUS"
"The light here has a peculiar density as if the blue of the sea had stained it with some of its own troubled dyes."
Reflections on a Marine Venus
Special Thanks
Lee Miniadis
Mary Mollo
Litsa Papathanassi
Kostas Skandalidis
Zoë Woolyrch York
The Hotel Andreas
The International Writers & Translators Center of Rhodes
The Office of the Mayor of Rhodes
The Stegi Grammaton Kai Technon Dodekanissou
Conference Organizers
Director: Paul Lorenz
Program & Publications: Carol Peirce & Jane Eblen Keller
Penelope Durrell-Hope
Ian S. MacNiven
Nikos Polemikos
Stacey Polemikos
Constance Rivemale
David Roessel
Anne Zahlan
Conference Sponsors
The University of the Aegean on Rhodes
The Municipality of Rhodes
The University of Baltimore
The International Lawrence Durrell Society