Constructions of the Classical in Central Europe: Chernivtsi and Bukovina

International Conference in Weimar

The conference examines a unique region of Central Europe nowadays belonging to the state territories of Ukraine and Romania and representing the historical and cultural diversity in Eastern Europe. What function do constructions of "the Classical" have in such a region that had to translate, mediate, and faced several cultures and literatures? Chernivtsi and Bukovina both represent the past of the Habsburg monarchy as well as the Age of Extremes and its Romanian, Soviet and Ukrainian histories, the aftermath of which is still tangible at present.

The history of Chernivtsi and Bukovina took place in the multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual areas in Europe:  Chernivtsi – in Yiddish Tschernowitz, in Hebrew צֶ׳רנוֹבִיץ, in Romanian Cernăuți, in Polish Czerniowce, in Russian Černovtsy, in Ukrainian Černivci – was the centre of Bukovina, a Crown land of the Habsburg Empire established in the late 18th century. The region was a melting pot of various languages: German, Yiddish, Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Armenian, Romani, and Russian, among others, with different literary languages and scripts (Hebrew, Cyrillic, Latin).

Considering cross-border canonizations, we will investigate the practice and function of the classical with regard to the possibility of cultural self-preservation in a zone of medial diversity. A separate panel entitled “Classic through translation?” will put a special focus on the role of translations within the process of constructing ‘the Classical’.

The conference is organized by the Research Centre for European Classicism, and supported by the Johann Gottfried Herder-Forschungsrat (Commission for Language and Literature). It will take place at Studienzentrum of Duchess Anna Amalia Library (Platz der Demokratie 4, 99423 Weimar).

Conference directors:

Prof. Dr. Steffen Höhne, University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar & Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Dr. Reinhard Laube, Duchess Anna Amalia Library Weimar

Prof. Dr. Alice Stašková, Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Dr. Reinhard Laube

Elisabeth Dietrich

Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek / Klassik Stiftung Weimar