Universit� degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

The series of meetings ‘Small dictionary of the 2000s between law and literature’ kicks off

Tuesday 25 February sees the start in Modena of the interdisciplinary series of meetings entitled ‘Piccolo dizionario degli anni Duemila tra diritto e letteratura’ (‘Small dictionary of the 2000s between law and literature’), an initiative that aims to analyse and explore the concepts of identity, body, maternity and victim, four central themes of the human condition, through a dialogue between law and contemporary literature.

The inaugural event, hosted by Libreria Ubik, in Via Dei Tintori, 22, at 6pm, will feature a discussion of the novel ‘V13’ by Emmanuel Carrère, focusing on the trial of the 13 November 2015 bombers in France. The speakers will be Vincenzo Pacillo, Professor of Canon Law, and Francesca Lorandini, Researcher of French Literature, both from Unimore, in dialogue with Elena Mattevi, Researcher of Criminal Law at the University of Trento.

The project is closely linked to the research and teaching activities of the Department of Studies on Language and Culture and is part of an established collaboration within the ‘Rewritings’ Research Group (https://www.dslc.unimore.it/it/ricerca/gruppi-di-ricerca), which has been working for years in an intercultural and interdisciplinary perspective. Contemporary French literature has been chosen as the first testing ground for an initiative that aims to involve other national literatures in the coming years.

‘The French cultural, literary and intellectual history of the last two centuries,’ says Prof. Francesca Lorandini, ’seems to provide a particularly interesting key to interpreting the themes raised by the novels that will be discussed during the cycle of meetings, and allows us to observe contemporary socio-political and cultural phenomena from a long-term perspective.’

‘Contemporary law,’ comments Prof. Vincenzo Pacillo, ’can be reinterpreted and enriched through a dialogue with literature, art and other forms of cultural expression, in order to rediscover its humanistic dimension, which is fundamental for a deeper and more holistic understanding of justice and society. Law is also a linguistic phenomenon, and research in law and literature is crucial to re-establishing a structural link between normative language and ethics.’

After the inaugural meeting, the cycle will continue with three appointments. On Monday 17 March, the theme of the body will be addressed through ‘Memoria di ragazza’ by Annie Ernaux, with the participation of Angela Albanese (Unimore) and Angela Condello (University of Messina). On Tuesday 25 March, the focus will be on identity, with ‘Un uomo non piange mai’ by Faïza Guène, in dialogue with Basira Hussen (Unimore) and Giuseppe Sciortino (University of Trento). Monday 31 March will close with the theme of motherhood, discussed starting from ‘Ninna nanna’ by Leïla Slimani, with the intervention of Maria Donata Panforti (Unimore).

The series of meetings is organised in collaboration with the Ubik Bookshop in Modena, the Seminar of French Philology and the Italian-French Cultural Association Acif, and is part of the Unimore 2024-25 Public Engagement activities.

Il ciclo di incontri è realizzato in collaborazione con la Libreria Ubik di Modena, il Seminario di Filologia Francese e l’Associazione culturale italo-francese Acif e rientra nelle attività di Public Engagement Unimore 2024-25.

For info: vincenzo.pacillo@unimore.it – francesca.lorandini@unimore.it

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng