[Bilimsel Haber] “Epic poetry and its safeguarding”

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

*Call for papers & participation/ P l e a s e D i s t r i b u t e / P o st*
* *
*International conference on*
*“Epic poetry and its safeguarding”*
*11-12 October, 2007*
*                                                          Bishkek,
Kyrgyzstan                                                          *
* *
Organizers of the conference:
*National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO*
*International Association “World People’s eposes”*
*/ /*
*Deadline for submission of applications and abstracts: September 15, 2007*





Most of the world’s cultures have evolved and transmitted their
knowledge, traditions, and values to succeeding generations by word of
mouth and relying solely on human memory. With the advent of handwriting
and other modern techniques such as an audio and video recording, much
of the oral heritage has been recorded in a material form. The oral
traditions and values are still important vectors of cultural
transmission in all countries. Epics, rituals, customs, and techniques
still rely on oral transmission. They are rooted in cultural tradition
and history of countries.
However, due to different changes of the last decades such as an impact
of globalization on economies of countries, as a result, the lack of
financial resources, widespread ignorance about the origins of cultures
a little attention was paid to safeguard ancient cultural values.
Despite, different efforts taken by countries to revive and safeguard
the oral heritage as time goes by there are still threats that can lead
to the disappearance of an age-old traditions and values.
In order to maintain both the richness and diversity of cultures
safeguarding and development of these values is one of the purposes of
modern societies, as a part of their commitment to create a humanistic
culture and broadening of international cultural cooperation.
It is within this context, the Kyrgyz National Commission for UNESCO in
cooperation with the International Association “World people’s eposes”
and within the framework of UNESCO/Japan Fund in Trust project on
“Safeguarding the art of Akyns, Kyrgyz epic tellers” is organizing an
international conference on epic heritage, which will be held in Bishkek
(Kyrgyzstan) on 11 and 12 October, 2007.
The conference will comprise of a scholarly programme and a performance
programme, during which distinguished and young akyns will present their
art to the conference participants and the public.
The main focus of the conference will be developing measures aimed at
promoting the oral heritage and enhancing it throughout the world.
Conference will also be a major promotional opportunity for the art of
the akyns, the Kyrgyz epic tellers and will examine practices of epic
preservation in other countries.



*Purposes of the conference:*
·        Safeguarding of epics and the art of epic telling as an unique
and traditional genre of the oral heritage;
·        Popularization of eposes and sagas (stories) in the context of
national and world cultures;
·        Exchange of experience and ideas on reviving and safeguarding
of epic heritage.
·        Broadening of international cultural cooperation and
participation in intellectual dialogue;
·        Promotion of the UNESCO Convention for safeguarding of the
intangible heritage.
* *
*Proposed themes of conference:*
*(*themes may fall within, but are not necessarily limited to, the
following)



*1.*   Epic heritage in the context of intangible heritage and world
cultures.
*2.*      Role of the UNESCO Convention for the safeguarding of the
intangible heritage.
*3.*      The Oral Art of /Akyns/ among nomads:
a.       The art of improvisation and its uniqueness.
b.      Main repertoire of /akïns/: /sanat-nasïyat/ and /terme/
philosophical-didactic poetry as tools to reinforce social, moral, and
democratic values.
c.       Socio-political role of Akyns: past and present.
*4.*      Epic tellers and their professional development;
*5.*      The role of epics in preservation of the language;
*6.*      Distinctive features of the Kyrgyz epics and the commonalities
it shares with other epic traditions (Epic and history, Geography of the
Epic /Manas/, Religious World of /Manas, /Gender and Equality in
/Manas/, Epic Heroes and their horses, the language of heroic epic,
Epics and their Collectors/Recorders, the role of /Manas epic/ and other
smaller epics in modern Kyrgyz culture;
*7.*      Preservation and transmission of the epics to future generations;
*8.*      The role of innovative presentations (books, films, theatre
performances, cartoons, etc.) in popularization of intangible heritage
among youth and children.
* *
*Preliminary program of the conference:*
*(Final program will be circulated by 1**th** October, 2007)*
·        Arrival of participants (October 10, 2007)
·        Registration of participants (October 11, 2007)
·        Opening ceremony (October 11, 2007)
·        Presentations and reports (October 11-12, 2007)
·        Performance of epic tellers and folk musicians (October 11-12,
2007)
·        Screening of narrative and documentaries on the subject of the
conference (October 11-12, 2007)
·        Exhibition of traditional arts and crafts* *(October 11-12, 2007)
·        Closing ceremony (October 12, 2007)
·        Departure of participants (October 13, 2007)



* *
*Conditions for participation:*
If interested in presenting a paper or organizing a panel in the
conference, please submit:
# YOUR FULL NAME
# INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION
# E-MAIL, POSTAL ADDRESS, and TEL.
# PAPER TITLE (and Panel theme and paper titles if applicable)
# 300-WORD PAPER ABSTRACT
# ONE-PAGE-MAX ACADEMIC RESUME
# Please, indicate willingness to serve as a session MODERATOR and/or
DISCUSSANT
# # Whether, if accepted, you will need a visa to attend the conference.



Kindly save the above in NO MORE THAN 2 PAGES TOTAL in A WORD FILE and
name your file as: Your last name in capital letters, a hyphen, followed
by your first name (e.g. your 2-page Word application should be named:
LASTNAME-Name.doc). As the ‘Subject’ of your email type: ‘Conference
participant.’ Abstract format:* *MS* *Word, Times New Roman, 12 (the
total number pages of your presentation paper should not exceed 8-10
pages).



Participants of the conference are required to provide their papers in
Russian or English languages. All papers should be submitted preferably
until September 15, 2007 to the following email addresses:
natcomunesco at intranet.kg <mailto:natcomunesco at intranet.kg>,
elnkorch at yahoo.com <mailto:elnkorch at yahoo.com>, sabiras at mail.ru
<mailto:sabiras at mail.ru>



Conference enjoys financial support from UNESCO/Japan Fund in Trust for
participants. As a result, limited number of participants will be
provided with the following:
- round-trip travel tickets  from home country to Bishkek/ Kyrgyzstan
- accommodation
- meals and refreshment
- if required, visa processing to enter into Kyrgyzstan



Working languages of the conference are Kyrgyz, Russian, and English
(simultaneous translation will be provided during the conference).
While we anticipate your response at your earliest convenience, please
do not hesitate to contact us for further information.



Updates also will be posted soon on: http://www.unesco-kg.org
<http://www.unesco-kg.org/>





    "turkoloji"den, göndereneminenaskali at gmail.com




.

__,_._,___