Conference will help students globalize
By MARIBEL MOREY
News Writer
Study abroad applications were due last Friday, but this Friday, Europe is coming to Notre Dame. Before embarking on a journey through Germany or France or Spain next semester, the conference "Globalization and Cultural Diversity in Europe" will give insight into the European culture.
This conference, open to those who are interested in the changing culture of the region, is sponsored by the Nanovic Institute for European Studies and will be held on Friday and Saturday in McKenna Hall.
All attending students and faculty will examine the state of Europe by bringing together performers, professors and students. Each speaker will have the floor for twenty minutes.
By contacting as many institutes in Europe as possible, Robert Wegs, director of the Nanovic Institute began planning the conference one and a half years ago.
"The main thrust in this conference is whether or not culture is being destroyed by globalization," said Wegs. The United States can be seen as a significant influence in Europe.
American culture has had an impact in European consumption and mass media, but Wegs sees a different phenomenon.
"The Europeans are taking American culture and selecting what they want out of it and then transmitting it back to the United States," he said.
On Saturday, Anne Garreta from the Universite de Rennes II will present her talk on the French national identity during the literature session on Saturday at 9 a.m.
"Anne is a fascinating novelist with an extraordinary and brilliant mind," said Catherine Perry, romance languages and literature assistant professor.
Although this conference is held during study days, Perry and Wegs say that it is worthwhile and students are welcome to attend any of the sessions on Friday or Saturday.
"[Conferences] helps scholars to communicate with others," said Perry. "The fact that we're concentrating on culture is more interesting—it's more relevant to students."
From dance and hip-hop music to regionalism, consumption, literature and cinema, this conference on European culture and diversity will end on Saturday at 5p.m. with a panel discussion of the eight sessions.
All News Stories for Thursday, December 7, 2000
