Among speakers in the Jan Michalski Foundation’s ‘Talking About Revolution’ edition of the Bibliotopia festival are, top row from left, Bothayna Al-Essa; Martin Hirsch (image: Matsas, Stock); Constance Bantman; and Michel Nieva (image: Coni Rosman). On the second row from left are Daniel de Roulet (image: Matsas, Editions Phebus); Rose Lamy (image: Marie-Rouge); Yuri Andrukhovych (image: Ekko von Schwichow); and Amina Damerdji (image: Francesca Mantovani, Editions Gallimard)
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
‘Set Our Tomorrows Free’
In Montricher, the Bibliotopia literary weekend festival is set to open its eighth edition on Friday (May 16) at the Fondation Jan Michalski, with a theme Talking About Revolution.
Since the Swiss publisher Vera Michalski-Hoffman of Lausanne’s Libella opened the Bibliotopia program in 2018, it has been a weekend that “invites you to consider the role of writer and writing in society” and “to examine the issues of political engagement and artistic freedom, celebrate literature and the courage of writers.”
The Friday evening opens with readings from students of La Manufacture Artistic‘s Rene Zahnd, followed by a presentation called Resisting from the Margins featuring Michel Nieva and Fiston Mwanza Mujila, and cocktails.
And then Saturday and Sunday each feature onstage conversations and presentations from 11 a.m. to early evening.
The roster of those speaking this year includes:
- Bothayna Al-Essa
- Yuri Andrukhovych
- Constance Bantman
- Amina Damerdji
- Alissa Ganieva
- Martin Hirsch
- Gaspard Koenig
- Rose Lamy
- Eden Levin
- Fiston Mwanza Mujila
- Michel Nieva
- Daniel de Roulet
- Geetanjali Shree
- Yuna Visentin
- Dima Wannous
Literature in Time of Revolution
Vera Michalski-Hoffman
In reflection of this conflicted era in politics, social values, moral propositions, and a sense of darkening potentials, Michalski-Hoffman and her team have chosen to present a calibrated meditation on concepts—seemingly so scattered this year—of rebellion, resistance, revolution.
“From Congo to Argentina,” the foundation writes, “Syria to Ukraine, this year’s festival will explore the literary paths revolution can take in literature.
“With extremism rising all over the world, ideas and beliefs have become polarized, authoritarian regimes have grown in strength, tensions have increased, and rebellious fervors have grown everywhere. At the heart of this chaos, writers continue to question received truths, exploring the realities of radical change from various perspectives.”
- Here is Hirsch in Saturday’s opening with the provocative title: In the Face of Climate Emergency: The Right to Civil Disobedience.
- Al-Essa and Ganlieva explore Society Under Oppression: To Adapt or Revolt.
- Wannous and Damerdji discuss Roots of Chaos: Living in the Shadow of Revolution.
- Shree speaks on Challenging the Social and Patriarchal Order.
- Koenig speaks to Eco-Activism: Remaking the World.
- And on Saturday, Roulet and Bantman look at Revolutionary Women.
- Levin talks about a Lost Generation: The Counter-Attack.
- Visentin talks about Spirituality as an Act of Renewal and Transformation.
- Al Essa and Andrukhovych look at Dissident Voices: The Power of Artistic Imagination.
- Lamy closes the program with the prompt: Let’s Prepare for the Fight.
If you’re in Switzerland for all or part of the weekend, you’ll find more information on the program at Montricher here, and registration to book seats here.
“How should we look at revolutions?” the organizers ask. “How are we to reimagine social norms? Are dissident movements necessary for creating change? Is revolutionary power a force for good?
“Activism, civil disobedience, violence, postcolonialism, feminism, and the climate crisis will be at the centre of our discussions. In this company of 15 writers, Bibliotopia will inspire us to embrace the revolution, set fire to the powers that be, cast aside our shackles, and set our tomorrows free.”
More from Publishing Perspectives on the Jan Michalski Foundation is here. More of our coverage on book publishing in Switzerland is here, and more on the work of Vera Michalski-Hoffman is here.
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