This one-day symposium on the theme of ‘collapse’ brings together scholars from King’s College London and the University of Birmingham. ‘Collapse’ offers a framework through which to explore literary and cultural production of the long modernist period, whether via the cataclysm of the world wars, the economic collapse of the 1930s or global anti-colonialism. Collapsing the ‘now’ and the ‘then’ also generates resonance with our own moment of political and ecological crisis. Through papers, discussion and a closing roundtable, we will consider the state of modernist studies and its place in a rapidly changing academy.

This event is hosted by the English Department and the Centre for Modern Literature and Culture at King’s and is a collaboration with the Centre for Modernist Cultures at the University of Birmingham. States of Modernism 2 will be held at Birmingham in May 2020.

Speakers include: John Attridge (UNSW), John Connor (King’s), Jon Day (King’s), Lara Feigel (King’s), Kélina Gotman (King’s), Alexandra Harris (Birmingham), David James (Birmingham), Jo Malt (King’s), Luke Roberts (King’s) and Emma West (Birmingham).

Organisers: Charlotte Jones (King’s), Clara Jones (King’s), Anna Snaith (King’s), Nathan Waddell (Birmingham)

This is a free event but registration via Eventbrite is required. Lunch is provided.