ISC Held a Doctoral Roundtable Forum
On 12th November, Irish Studies Centre at Beijing Foreign Studies University successfully convened a doctoral roundtable forum themed “Contemporary Irish Women's Writing: The World in the Text and the Reception of the World”, featured in-depth discussions on the global impact and narrative construction of modern Irish literature.
Moderated by Dr. Qiu Feng, the forum showcased research from five PhD candidates who explored themes ranging from identity and migration to historical trauma. Jiang Yiling opened the discussion by analyzing Elizabeth Bowen’s "rooted cosmopolitanism," arguing that Bowen’s unique "intermediary perspective" bridges the gap between abstract modernism and historical reality. Liu Yukun turned the focus to Edna O'Brien’s later work Girl, examining the complexities of cultural appropriation and the author's emotional structure in depicting African narratives.
The session continued with Xu Mengdie’s comparative analysis of Claire Keegan’s The Sisters and the works of William Faulkner, which highlighted the structural approaches to writing women's historical trauma. Zhu Ziyuan explored the "Post-Celtic Tiger" era through Sally Rooney’s Normal People, discussing the novel's global resonance and the psychological landscape of contemporary Irish youth. Finally, Chen Sichang interpreted Marie Jones’s play Stones in His Pockets through a "glocal" lens, revealing the intricate cultural dynamics in a globalized era.
Professor Chen Li provided expert commentary, noting that the surge in Irish women's writing reflects a global trend of female authors engaging with broad cultural debates beyond traditional gender discourse. While praising the students' theoretical innovation and global perspective, Professor Chen advised on strengthening logical cohesion in academic writing and ensuring that comparative studies are driven by clear, deep-seated research questions. The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, underscoring the vibrant academic atmosphere and the research potential of the school’s emerging scholars.
