As scholars, we have often been reminded to be suspicious of origin stories, but in the cases of Armenia and Ireland, we find a shared source for resilience. Oral narratives and written accounts deal with various forms of both resilience and resistance in various contexts. The Daredevils of Sassoun and the Irish Fianna can be read as heroic folk tales imbued with the spirit of nationhood, struggle and resistance and are just two examples of the parallels between Armenian and Irish folklore, culture, and history.
This special issue of Studi irlandesi aims to bring together scholars working in various disciplines with an interest in Armenia and Ireland, as well as practitioners – writers and artists. In short, all people with an academic or artistic interest in the two countries. As guest editors, we invite you to submit papers in your area of research, or as part of your artistic practice, and on topics related to the intercultural connections between Armenia and Ireland.
We are particularly interested in receiving paper proposals that engage with the notion of resilience in historical myths, subversive folklore, and contemporary protest movements. Resilience here is understood not merely as an individual act of heroism and bravery but also as a communal, social and relational interaction which reveals itself in various social and political movements and cultural forms and expressions of resistance. Studies in the field of oral and visual memory or ones that deal with various forms of diasporic belonging in Armenian and Irish communities overseas are especially welcomed, as are studies that take into account the decade of centenaries in these two regions.
This 8h issue of Studi irlandesi. A Journal of Irish Studies <http://www.fupress.net/index.php/bsfm-sijis> will explore shared cultural forms in Ireland and Armenia throughout history. The aim of this special edition is to provide an overview of various academic approaches to and interpretations of various forms of intercultural links in the histories and cultures of Armenia and Ireland. Papers from all academic disciplines, in particular, History; Cultural Studies and Literary Studies; Urban Studies; Resistance and Genocide Studies are welcome.
Studi irlandesi. A Journal of Irish Studies is a peer-reviewed, open access journal published by Florence University Press. It aims to promote and contribute to the interdisciplinary debate on themes and research issues pertaining to every aspect of Irish culture, in order to create a place for an international debate and high-quality research on Irish literary studies, history, cultural perspectives and linguistic inquiry, from the Romantic Era to the present age. The journal is published in English and Italian.
Articles are subject to full peer-review. Please send abstracts of 250 to 400 words, outlines and expressions of interest for 8.000 to 10.000 words papers, as well as biographic information of 50 to 100 words by 15 May 2017 to the Guest Editors: Suzan Meryem Rosita (suzan.kalayci@eui.eu); Dieter Reinisch (dieter.reinisch@eui.eu); and to the General Editor: Fiorenzo Fantaccini (ffantaccini@unifi.it). Successful candidates will be informed in June 2017. The deadline for submission of manuscripts is 15 November 2017. Informal enquiries to the editor about possible paper submissions are welcome and should be addressed to the contacts above. The 8th issue of Studi irlandesi. A Journal of Irish Studies which will be published in late June 2018.