Art history, archaeology, and architectural studies; minority affairs and migration; heritage preservation; and cultural studies in the MENA region
Duration
3 months
Host at the University of Passau
Prof. Dr. Marina Ortrud Hertrampf
(Professorship of Romance Literature and Culture with a focus on France)
This research explores the intellectual and cultural contributions of Levantine diaspora thinkers in Europe, emphasizing their role in fostering dialogue between the Arab East and Europe since the mid-twentieth century. While much scholarship focuses on the political aspects of Levantine migration, the cultural and intellectual outputs of displaced thinkers have remained relatively underexplored. This study addresses that gap by portraying exiled intellectuals not as passive victims of displacement but as active agents in the construction of transnational identities and the reformation of Western perceptions of the East, primarily through literature and thought rather than politics or media.
The central case study examines the Syrian poet Adonis, whose long-standing residence in Paris and significant influence on French cultural life serve as a prime example of how exile can transform intellectual discourse. The research investigates the historical and social conditions that prompted Levantine migration to Europe, how exile has shaped literary production, and the reception of this work within European cultural circles.
Conducted during a fellowship at the University of Passau under the guidance of Dr. Marina Hertrampf, a specialist in French literature and culture, the project leverages Passau's interdisciplinary strengths in Middle Eastern, cultural, and migration studies. The methodology incorporates archival research, comparative literary analysis, and fieldwork within Levantine communities in Europe, including direct engagement with Adonis and other intellectuals.
Beyond its academic implications, this research holds broader significance by demonstrating that exile generates a dual cultural discourse that preserves Levantine intellectual heritage while engaging with contemporary concepts of rationality, freedom, and social justice. The findings will be disseminated through a conference and subsequent publication, contributing to ongoing discussions about cultural integration in an increasingly interconnected Europe.
