If you haven’t already seen it, don’t miss the exhibit of photographs by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Turnley on display (now through November 9th) in the International Institute.

Translating Human Rights: Bodies of Evidence, International Institute Conference, October 26

This exhibit, sponsored by the International Institute in conjunction with the Translation Theme Semester, coincides with the October 26th symposium “Translating Human Rights: Bodies of Evidence.” The symposium will include a discussion with Turnley, reflecting on his photographic work as a way to “translate” bodies into visual evidence for the study of human rights. Other speakers include Thomas Keenan (Bard), Patrick Ball (Benetech), Vincanne Adams (UCSF), and Inderpal Grewal (Yale), with UM faculty respondents.

Monday, Mahmood Farooqi performed Vijay Dan Detha’s Chouboli, a Rajasthani tale of a princess who made a vow to only marry a man who can make her speak four times in one night. Using Professor Christi Merrill’s translation of this funny but bitter tale, Farooqi developed his own rendering of “Dastan-e-Chouboli” in Urdu, from which he performs (with readings from the English translation by Professor Merrill). Mahmood Farooqui is a “Visiting Scholars from the Muslim World” Fellow who is leading a revival of the lost art of story-telling called Dastangoi.

Also this week, UMInDS joins with the Institute for the Humanities to present A Two-Day Workshop on Disability and Multi-Sensory Translation. The workshop on Wednesday explored literary ekphrasis through the lens of disability studies. Participants in Thursday’s blind field walk experience the UM Museum of Art with their eyes closed as an experienced tour guide translates the museum’s collection out loud for them.

Upcoming Events, October 18-29

Reading by Clayton Eshleman—The Zell Visiting Writers Series welcomes poet and translator Clayton Eshleman, who will be reading from his new translation of Aimé Césaire’s Solar Throat Slashed (Soleil cou coupé).
Thursday, October 18th, 5pm, Helmut Stern Auditorium, UM Museum of Art

Publishing Poetry in Translation: Delight and Dilemma—a panel of publishers discusses what is at stake in acts of poetic translation and in the publication of translated works.
Friday, October 19th, noon, Hatcher Graduate Library Gallery

From Feisten to Feisbuku: The Changing Uses of Saamaka History—A workshop by Richard Price regarding his and Sally Price’s work translating and advocating for the Saamaka People.
Friday, October 19th, 2pm, 411 West Hall

The Qur’an Read as the Document of an Epistemic Turn—A lecture by Angelika Neuwirth, of the Free University of Berlin.
Monday, October 22nd, 4pm, 2022 S. Thayer Building

North Quad Translation Mondays Series: Retelling a Rajasthani Folk Tale in Urdu—Mahmood Farooqui will perform Vijay Dan Detha’s Chouboli, interspersed with readings from the English translation by Professor Christi Merrill.
Monday, October 22nd, 7pm, 2435 North Quad

Twice-Described Description: Notes Toward an Ekphrastic Culture—A workshop with Susan Schweik (UC Berkeley) that will explore relations between literary ekphrasis (traditionally understood as the textual description of a visual work of art) and the kinds of description that disability is thought to occasion.
Wednesday, October 24th, 6pm, Common Room, Institute for the Humanities

Blind Field Walk of UMMA—with Carmen Papalia (Portland State University). Participants will form a line behind Papalia and keep their eyes closed for the duration of the walking tour. In the second half of this event, the workshop team will encourage participants to give non-visual tours of exhibits in the museum themselves.
Thursday, October 25th, 1pm, Common Room, Institute for the Humanities

Translating Human Rights: Bodies of Evidence—A symposium sponsored by the International Institute in conjunction with the Translation Theme Semester.
Friday, October 26th, 9am-5pm, International Institute (1080 South University Ave.)

丝蕊 The Silk Stamen and Pistil: Three Ways to Rethink the Meaning of Sound in Translation—A lecture by Jonathan Stalling. Part of the North Quad Translation Mondays Series.
Monday, October 29th, 7pm, 2435 North Quad