DELC Research Seminar Series: Caroline Verdier In brief Date - 8 May 2025Venue - Project Room 1.06, 50 George SquareSpeaker - Dr Caroline Verdier (University of Strathclyde)Title - Lydia and Alice: Literary and Photographic (Mis)adventuresChair - Dr Susan Bainbrigge (French and Francophone Studies) About the eventThe Department of European Languages and Cultures (DELC) in partnership with the Centre de recherches francophones belges are thrilled to welcome Dr Caroline Verdier (University of Strathclyde) to present a talk titled 'Lydia and Alice: Literary and Photographic (Mis)adventures', introduced and chaired by DELC’s Susan Bainbrigge (author of the recent article, 'Curiouser and curiouser': Childhood figures to live by, in writings in French by Lydia Flem and Philippe Forest').Francophone Belgian author and psychoanalyst Lydia Flem's wide-ranging publications (essays, autofiction, photography) highlight the significance of key literary figures to her creative project, such as Alice from the Alice in Wonderland stories. Her most recent publication, 'Que ce soit doux pour les vivants' (2024) revisits the themes of loss and transmission. Flem writes: 'La vie ne nous oblige jamais à quitter nos héros littéraires'/'Life never obliges us to leave our literary heroes'.The Alice stories act as a framing structure in which the narrators in both these texts explore experiences of transformation, change and loss. Why Alice? This seminar will offer some suggestions, and explore further Flem's interest in introspective processes, intertextuality, intermediality, the archive, and literary identifications.About the speakerDr Caroline Verdier is a Senoir Lecturer in French at the University of Strathclyde. Her work explores the use of literature and image in writings specifically about illness, namely Flem's La Reine Alice/Queen Alice (2011), the story of a journey through cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, the figure of Alice presents creative (and cathartic) possibilities in both word and image, in Flem’s ‘archives de l’intime’.View Caroline's full profile on Strathclyde's websiteHow to attendThis event is free to attend and open to all. No registration is required - just come along! There will be a Q&A after the talk, and refreshments will be provided.About the seminar seriesThe DELC Research Seminar Series (DRSS) encourages collaboration and coproduction between staff and students across European Languages and Cultures and beyond.Entry is free and everyone is welcome. No registration is necessary.Are you interested in studying European Languages and Cultures?Our interdisciplinary environment brings together specialists in nine European languages, and the many cultures worldwide in which they're spoken, with experts in film, literature, theatre, translation and intermediality. Working with colleagues elsewhere in LLC, and across the wider University, we are able to support research which crosses boundaries between disciplines and/or languages. Find out more about studying with us Tags European Languages and Cultures French and Francophone Studies May 08 2025 17.30 - 18.30 DELC Research Seminar Series: Caroline Verdier An in-person seminar by Dr Caroline Verdier (University of Strathclyde) on the figure of Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland' within Francophone literature; specifically, within Lydia Flem's various publications. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9LH Find the venue: 50 George Square
DELC Research Seminar Series: Caroline Verdier In brief Date - 8 May 2025Venue - Project Room 1.06, 50 George SquareSpeaker - Dr Caroline Verdier (University of Strathclyde)Title - Lydia and Alice: Literary and Photographic (Mis)adventuresChair - Dr Susan Bainbrigge (French and Francophone Studies) About the eventThe Department of European Languages and Cultures (DELC) in partnership with the Centre de recherches francophones belges are thrilled to welcome Dr Caroline Verdier (University of Strathclyde) to present a talk titled 'Lydia and Alice: Literary and Photographic (Mis)adventures', introduced and chaired by DELC’s Susan Bainbrigge (author of the recent article, 'Curiouser and curiouser': Childhood figures to live by, in writings in French by Lydia Flem and Philippe Forest').Francophone Belgian author and psychoanalyst Lydia Flem's wide-ranging publications (essays, autofiction, photography) highlight the significance of key literary figures to her creative project, such as Alice from the Alice in Wonderland stories. Her most recent publication, 'Que ce soit doux pour les vivants' (2024) revisits the themes of loss and transmission. Flem writes: 'La vie ne nous oblige jamais à quitter nos héros littéraires'/'Life never obliges us to leave our literary heroes'.The Alice stories act as a framing structure in which the narrators in both these texts explore experiences of transformation, change and loss. Why Alice? This seminar will offer some suggestions, and explore further Flem's interest in introspective processes, intertextuality, intermediality, the archive, and literary identifications.About the speakerDr Caroline Verdier is a Senoir Lecturer in French at the University of Strathclyde. Her work explores the use of literature and image in writings specifically about illness, namely Flem's La Reine Alice/Queen Alice (2011), the story of a journey through cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, the figure of Alice presents creative (and cathartic) possibilities in both word and image, in Flem’s ‘archives de l’intime’.View Caroline's full profile on Strathclyde's websiteHow to attendThis event is free to attend and open to all. No registration is required - just come along! There will be a Q&A after the talk, and refreshments will be provided.About the seminar seriesThe DELC Research Seminar Series (DRSS) encourages collaboration and coproduction between staff and students across European Languages and Cultures and beyond.Entry is free and everyone is welcome. No registration is necessary.Are you interested in studying European Languages and Cultures?Our interdisciplinary environment brings together specialists in nine European languages, and the many cultures worldwide in which they're spoken, with experts in film, literature, theatre, translation and intermediality. Working with colleagues elsewhere in LLC, and across the wider University, we are able to support research which crosses boundaries between disciplines and/or languages. Find out more about studying with us Tags European Languages and Cultures French and Francophone Studies May 08 2025 17.30 - 18.30 DELC Research Seminar Series: Caroline Verdier An in-person seminar by Dr Caroline Verdier (University of Strathclyde) on the figure of Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland' within Francophone literature; specifically, within Lydia Flem's various publications. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9LH Find the venue: 50 George Square
May 08 2025 17.30 - 18.30 DELC Research Seminar Series: Caroline Verdier An in-person seminar by Dr Caroline Verdier (University of Strathclyde) on the figure of Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland' within Francophone literature; specifically, within Lydia Flem's various publications.
