XVII International Symposium on “Literature of Small Countries and the Challenges of the Modern Global World”

On September 25 and 26, Kutaisi hosted the XVII International Symposium on “Literature of Small Countries and the Challenges of the Modern Global World”, which was part of the UNESCO Literature City initiatives.
Irma Ratiani, director of the Institute of Georgian Literature, in her introductory speech remarked about the special role of the city of Kutaisi in the process of forming Georgian symbolism.
Scientists from different countries participated in the work of the international symposium together with Georgian colleagues. Among them were Professor Alexandre Stroev of the Sorbonne University and the president of the World Comparative Literature Association (ICLA), professor of Goldsmiths University of London, Lucia Boldrini.
Plenary speakers included: TSU professor Irma Ratiani, with a report – at the beginnings of Georgian symbolism; TSU Associate Professor Gaga Lomidze, with a report – Georgian modernism poetics and politics; Sorbonne University Professor Alexander Stroev – The rise of the role of machines in the literature of the early twentieth century.
Within the framework of the symposium, a documentary “Birth of Georgian Symbolism” was presented, and in parallel two events were held:
-Teaching Georgian symbolists at school (moderator – Natia Purtseladze);
-Meeting with writers from Kutaisi: challenges and perspectives (moderators: Elguja Tavberidze, Rostom Chkheidze).
Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature, the Georgian Comparative Literature Association (GCLA), and Tbilisi State University organized the symposium. Co-organizers included Akaki Tsereteli State University, Caucasus International University, and Kutaisi City Municipality.