“Ecocriticism in Southeast Asian Literature: History, Myth and Society”

After the developments in the US and the West, ecology and ecological literary studies are expanding to many regions of Asia, including Southeast Asia. In Vietnam today, ecology in general and ecological literary criticism have attracted the attention of researchers. Some research works, articles, and seminars have begun to focus on ecological criticism, but the complexity, diversity, and changes of ecological criticism still need to be explored and deeply researched and opened up in many other branches. Because, looking at literature through an ecological lens will bring new and useful discoveries, contributing to solving current environmental problems caused by the industrialization and modernization process. Furthermore, the Southeast Asian region in general and Southeast Asian literature in particular are being targeted by ecological critics and ecologists around the world because there the issues of ecology-environment, ecology-culture, and ecology-spirituality are clearly expressed.

Overview of the workshop

The international conference “Ecocriticism in Southeast Asian Literature: History, Myth and Society” is organized to connect literary discourses with discussions on environment and ecology; thereby promoting the trend of interdisciplinary research in literature in particular and social sciences and humanities in general, increasing the interaction between academic research and practical issues in society.

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh emphasized the importance of the conference, especially when the conference topic has not received thorough attention in the research community. The Rector believes that the conference will contribute to the international integration trend of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The Rector hopes that the papers can be published in prestigious scientific journals in the world, including journals in the ISI list. On behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh affirmed that the University is always a reliable address and forum for academic exchange and communication, creating necessary solutions for practical problems.

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh delivered the opening speech at the conference.

After the opening session, the conference entered the plenary session with keynote speeches by two leading experts in ecocriticism in the world: Prof. Hellen Tiffin (University of Wollongong, Australia) with her speech “Narrative Strategies and the Survival of Species”; and Prof. Graham Huggan (University of Leeds, UK) with her speech “Human-Animal Tensions and the Image of the Sorrowful Whale”.

Prof. Hellen Tiffin presented a paper at the conference

In addition to the two general sessions, the conference has 10 sub-committees focusing on the following issues: imagining Southeast Asian society through ecology; ethnic ecology and ethnic diversity; women and nature in Southeast Asian literature; ecological consciousness; ancient cultures, water, forests and people; myth-making about geological pasts; myth and ecology; environmental parables about urbanization; social and environmental injustices; human-made ecological crises and trauma discourses.