#icorn

[fanofbabyprincess]

[guilddispatches]

I have recently learned of an ICORN member who was a guest writer in Italy from 2011-2013, and could not avoid sharing the story here. —Quinn Stifler

—

Up until a couple of weeks ago when the linked article was posted, little to no coverage on Sepideh Jodeyri’s translation of Julie Maroh’s /Blue is the Warmest Color/ had been brought to attention, especially in the United States. Maroh’s story details a relationship between two young women, a queer story, of something like love, perhaps, or of course. Jodeyri, an Iranian poet and journalist, and a feminist, translated Maroh’s book into Persian, and received significant backlash from the Iranian government soon after. When interviews were conducted with Jodeyri for publication, they were quickly redacted, for fear that the entire publication would be shut down for “supporting” illegal acts in Iran. Jodeyri has three requests for those of us who have the freedom of speech to disseminate information on the situation. They can be found in this article. It is possible to create waves of change, as the author of this article did; only a few days after its publication, another article was written on a US site, backlash articles were removed from Iranian news sites, Jodeyri received recognition in her struggle, and perhaps, LGBT people in Iran and elsewhere felt a little less isolated, as Jodeyri wished for. Please spread the word.

[guilddispatches]

We are all observers (John Rich)

As we return from Norway and Kapittel, I am filled with gratitude: for all the writers involved, for our host city Stavanger and the generous people at Kapittel, ICORN, and the culture house, and for our many supporters individual and organizational. Thank you.

But this is not a goodbye. During the festival, we presented, but we were primarily observers. Observing is active, and our “free” time from the festival was often filled with energized debates and thoughtful consideration. We are not done thinking—or sharing.

Our dispatches will continue as we overcome jetlag and reflect. Here you will find ruminations on freedom, story, place, boundaries, home, exile, and more. Thank you for observing. We hope to inspire you as we have been inspired.

[guilddispatches]

Quinn here — I also wanted to share this picture from the roof of the Cultural Center in Stavanger. See that colorful banner in the middle? Signs of Kapittel!

[guilddispatches]

The Festival Commences by Quinn Stifler

Today we met with the three main board members of ICORN. As Adam mentioned in his post, the three of them do the bulk of ICORN’s work. In our meeting, one of them said, “We do a lot of impossible stuff.” Looking at this photo which lists every International City of Refuge through ICORN, you can see what an incredible task they have at hand. ICORN receives 50-70 applications each year from writers seeking assistance or asylum. They are only able to place 15-20. I am so proud to be here on behalf of the Guild and Chicago, and so honored to be working with them. Here’s to hoping Chicago follows Uppsala in black acrylic.

Today seemed to revolve around conversations of identity: how identity changes when conflict enters; how a new identity can be imposed upon you; the cases in which a person is forced to choose an identity category; or when one part of an identity trumps another without the full consent of the person. These are topics that touch deep parts of the experience of exile, it seems. After the opening reception for Kapittel at the Museum of Oil, we shared drinks with a few folks, including our friend from April, Manal. Manal is currently living in Stavanger as a guest writer with ICORN, but is originally from Iraq. She discussed the ways that the conditions in Iraq which forced her to leave created a situation in which her identity as an Iraqi was overridden by, from what I understand, the ways in which the government wished to classify her. I was on the other end of the table, so my take from the conversation is in pieces. All conversations at this bar were heavy in topic, lighter in spirit, and so very diverse. As we were talking identity, I looked around and found myself surrounded by someone from Palestine, Iraq, Norway, and Poland, among other Americans with rich cultural backgrounds. What a blessing to all be together.

We proceeded to one of the opening lectures, “The Norwegian Way,” by Amund Sjolie Sveen. A musician and writer, Sveen combined a presentation with experimental noise music to discuss the potential problems with oil being one of Norway’s top export, and how it may relate to levels of happiness among Norwegian citizens.

Tomorrow brings many promising lectures, more friends, great food, and a deeper cohabitation with these questions of personhood and identity. For now, I shall say goodnight, with a kiss and a thanks to the local beer on tap, Tou, which we learned means “rope.”

[penamerican]

Tonight! Silence or Exile: Film Screening and Discussion

On Monday, October 22, PEN American Center’s Larry Siems will moderate a conversation between Yu Jie and Anna Funder before a screening of Silence or Exile. The event will take place from 7pm to 9pm at The Scandinavia House,58 Park Avenue at 38th St.

Silence or Exile tells the stories of the lives and work of five exiled writers who, in their pursuit of freedom of expression, have been forced to escape their home countries. The writers portrayed are:  Philo Ikonya (Kenya/Oslo), Mana Neyestani (Iran/Paris), Horacio Castellanos-Moya (El Salvador/Iowa City), Svetlana Alexievitch (Belarus/Berlin), and Ma Jian (China/London).

Yu Jie is the recipient of the 2012 Civil Courage Prize. He is known as one of China’s most prominent essayists and critics. Following severe harassment and persecution he fled to the US with his family in January 2012. From his new point of exile, he sees “his lifelong goal as achieving democracy and freedom in China.”

Anna Funder explores, in her acclaimed novel All that I Am, the destinies of persecuted writers and intellectuals in the Weimar Era and during World War II. From that perspective, she will draw the lines up to our age, asking how solidarity and hospitality can be mobilized for persecuted writers of today.

The event is organized by ICORN, the International Cities of Refuge Network and its Shahrazad stories for life program, in close cooperation with PEN American Center and the Scandinavia House.

[penamerican]

Monday! - PEN, ICORN, Yu Jie, and Anna Funder and a Film

On Monday, October 22, PEN American Center’s Larry Siems will moderate a conversation between Yu Jie and Anna Funder before a screening of Silence or Exile. The event will take place from 7pm to 9pm at The Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue at 38th St.

Silence or Exile tells the stories of the lives and work of five exiled writers who, in their pursuit of freedom of expression, have been forced to escape their home countries. The writers portrayed are:  Philo Ikonya (Kenya/Oslo), Mana Neyestani (Iran/Paris), Horacio Castellanos-Moya (El Salvador/Iowa City), Svetlana Alexievitch (Belarus/Berlin), and Ma Jian (China/London).

Yu Jie is the recipient of the 2012 Civil Courage Prize. He is known as one of China’s most prominent essayists and critics. Following severe harassment and persecution he fled to the US with his family in January 2012. From his new point of exile, he sees “his lifelong goal as achieving democracy and freedom in China.”

Anna Funder explores, in her acclaimed novel All that I Am, the destinies of persecuted writers and intellectuals in the Weimar Era and during World War II. From that perspective, she will draw the lines up to our age, asking how solidarity and hospitality can be mobilized for persecuted writers of today.

The event is organized by ICORN, the International Cities of Refuge Network and its Shahrazad stories for life program, in close cooperation with PEN American Center and the Scandinavia House.

[penlive]

PEN: Silence or Exile, a Film Screening and Discussion

On Monday, October 22, PEN American Center’s Larry Siems will moderate a conversation between Yu Jie and Anna Funder before a screening of Silence or Exile. The event will take place from 7pm to 9pm at The Scandinavia House,38 Park Avenue.

Silence or Exile tells the stories of the lives and work of five exiled writers who, in their pursuit of freedom of expression, have been forced to escape their home countries. The writers portrayed are:  Philo Ikonya (Kenya/Oslo), Mana Neyestani (Iran/Paris), Horacio Castellanos-Moya (El Salvador/Iowa City), Svetlana Alexievitch (Belarus/Berlin), and Ma Jian (China/London).

Yu Jie is the recipient of the 2012 Civil Courage Prize. He is known as one of China’s most prominent essayists and critics. Following severe harassment and persecution he fled to the US with his family in January 2012. From his new point of exile, he sees “his lifelong goal as achieving democracy and freedom in China.”

Anna Funder explores, in her acclaimed novel All that I Am, the destinies of persecuted writers and intellectuals in the Weimar Era and during World War II. From that perspective, she will draw the lines up to our age, asking how solidarity and hospitality can be mobilized for persecuted writers of today.

The event is organized by ICORN, the International Cities of Refuge Network and its Shahrazad stories for life program, in close cooperation with PEN American Center and the Scandinavia House.