Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Jägerstraße 22-23, Berlin, Germany
The role of digital spaces in contemporary literature is becoming increasingly significant. Exiled authors use digital media to voice their work, to stay in contact with their former audiences, and to build international communities. Sometimes, the digital is the only possible place to publish texts that are banned or censored elsewhere. Notable examples include Syrian exile Aboud Saeed, who writes politically critical novels on Facebook; Kurdish author Yavuz Ekinci, who was imprisoned for a pro-Kurdish tweet; and Ugandan poet Stella Nyanzi, who publishes almost exclusively through social media.
The conference "Digital Exile Literature" will focus on the role of the digital in contemporary exile literature. In light of the DLA's expansion to include works by exiled authors currently residing in Germany, the event aims to discuss case studies that illustrate the diverse digital practices of exile writers. These include the use of social media platforms and personal blogs for self-representation and exchange, offering not only opportunities for the dissemination of literature but also for networking with communities both in the home country and in exile.
Additionally, the conference will examine the role of digital archives. Many contemporary exile authors digitise their works for pragmatic reasons, which affects both long-term preservation and global access. Digital methods of analysis and AI-assisted translations are increasingly available, but these innovations also present challenges such as online harassment or hacking, particularly in relation to politically sensitive texts.
