UNESCO Cities of Literature Network presents: The Narratives of Survival

Guests: Alenka Zupančič (Ljubljana UNESCO City of Literature)

Host: Aljoša Pužar

Can literature be a powerful reservoir of narratives ready to nurture society’s needs, offer personal formation, and act as a guide in a world pervaded by noise?

Though the impact of literature has been challenged, it still can provide alternative narratives that escape the restraints of political correctness, restoring the capacity for laughter in a society marked by ideological extremes.

How could literature – both fiction and non-fiction – respond to the intensifying climate crisis? What kind of language could still offer the freedom of nuance while assuring moments of solidarity among polarized and distracted communities?

The UNESCO Cities of Literature network currently comprises 42 cities from 6 continents and 28 countries, with a combined population of over 26 million. Starting in 2023, Ljubljana – as part of Slovenia as the Guest of Honor – presents the first in a series of yearly UNESCO City of Literature panels. These panels, each year organized by a different member city, will showcase the most prominent writers and discuss pertinent issues, all the while highlighting the importance of books and reading.

Organization: Ljubljana, UNESCO City of Literature, endorsed by MOL

Co-hosts: Slovene Book Agency; Reykjavik, UNESCO City of Literature

Alenka Zupančič is a Slovene philosopher and social theorist, notable for her work on the intersection of philosophy and psychoanalysis. She is a lecturer at numerous universities, an editor and an author.

Aljoša Pužar

Aljoša Pužar is a cultural studies scholar and writer. He taught cultural studies, cultural anthropology, and women's studies at several universities and published books on literary history, border studies, and Korean culture.