2021 Woman E-Lit Symposium

Woman E-Lit was a symposium that took place on March 30, 2021 during Women’s History Month celebrating women who have contributed to the field of electronic literature. It also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Electronic Literature Lab (ELL). The two events intersect in that it was important to the ELL Team to celebrate the lab's anniversary in a way that speaks to it mission––that is, to curate, document, preserve, and produce born digital literary works and other media. Hosting a symposium where women could come together to amplify achievements, provide a space of free and welcomed expression, and celebrate you, us, all of us, whether here today or not seemed to be the most joyful way to accomplish this goal.

Schedule:

9:00-9:10: Welcome & Introductions by Dene Grigar

9:10-9:30: "Women researchers in Latin American E-Lit," by Carolina Gainza, Rejane Rocha, Nohelia Meza, and Veroníca Gomez

9:30-9:40: "Provocation: Why Are Women Special?," by Lyle Skains

9:40-9:50: “Mothers and (sometimes unexpected) Daughters of E-Lit. On Polish women, (e-)literary theory, and VR poetry," by Agnieszka Przybyszewska

9:50-10:00: "Digital Poetry & Gendered Bodies," by Jeneen Naji

10:10-10:20: “Leading Women in the Assimilation of E-lit in Arabic Culture," by Eman Younis

10:20-10:30: “#Crossroads…,” by Annie Abrahams

10:30-10:40:  "Gender and Canadian Digital Poetics with Asterisks," by Dani Spinosa

10:40-10:50:  “Griottes of a New Age,”  by Judith Okonkwo

10:50-11:00: “Call to Action: Let Her Name Be Remembered,” by Dene Grigar

This is an activity whereby all participants at the event honor women who have shaped the field over the years by documenting their names and contributions.