Femmes Créa(c)tives: The Life and Work of Francophone Women in the Arts and Media

13 – 14 June 2016, University of Exeter

Guest speaker: Darina al-Joundi (writer and actress)

Keynote speakers: Dr Siobhan Shilton (University of Bristol) and Prof Marnia Lazreg (Hunter College, CUNY)



This international, interdisciplinary conference seeks to bring together scholars of all fields to explore and celebrate the contribution of women in the creative arts around the Francophone world.

Due to their portrayal in both the media and in popular culture, French women have, for decades, seemed synonymous with progress, liberalism, and feminine agency. In a world where (post)feminism is more and more visible, scholars around the world are increasingly focusing on the work of Francophone women, exploring the interaction between this concept of “agency” and these women as creative figures. What role do gender relations play in the creation and reception of women’s work? Does increasing gender equality in the creative industries affect the impact of, or presence of agency in, women’s creative endeavours? Is a “femme créative” also, by extension, a “femme active,” and what effect does this have? This conference seeks to answer these questions and more by bringing together scholars to investigate the work of women writers, film-makers, artists, journalists, and other creatives not only from France, but around the Francophone world, building transnational and transcultural links within the field of Francophone women’s studies.

We are pleased to invite proposals for papers (in English or French; duration 20 minutes) that focus on, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Femmes créatives, active and réactives in the Francophone world;
Francophone women artists, writers, filmmakers and other creatives;
Issues of identity and communication;
Women in the public sphere;
(In)equalities within the creative industries;
(Post)feminist perspectives;
The politics of women’s creativity;
Visual/Textual culture etc.

The suggested topics may be interpreted widely and are in no way meant to limit the themes approached in the proposed papers.

Abstracts of 200-250 words should be sent to femmescreactives2016@exeter.ac.uk by 21st February 2016. Please send abstracts in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.

Please include the following details with your abstract: name and surname, affiliation, contact e-mail address and short biography.

We also welcome proposals for complete panels (3 speakers) on the suggested topics or any other themes falling within the aims of the conference. Panel proposals should include all 3 abstracts, a short outline of the rationale of the panel, contact details for all panel members (including the panel chair) and a clearly designated contact person.

For more information, please email the organisers at the above address or see our website at: http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/femmescreactives2016/. The website will be updated regularly, to provide necessary information for delegates.