Symposium Obdobja 44

You are invited to take part in the 44th international Obdobja Symposium, titled Emotions and Slovenian Literature, which will be held from November 19th to 21st, 2025. It will be hosted by the Center for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language at the Department of Slovene Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana.

Emotions began to receive more attention in scholarship and the public at the end of the twentieth century; in literary studies, they were most systematically addressed within the context of postclassical narrative theory, with the “narrative turn” also linking the interest in narrativity with emotions. At the end of the century, there was not only a narrative and interpretative turn, but also an emotional one. Of course, emotions are not only linked to narrative art; they are a fundamental element of all three literary genres: poetry, prose, and drama. Research in psychology, cultural studies, sociology, and philosophy also has a great impact on exploring emotions. Particularly influential in this regard are the works of Martha Nussbaum, who argues the complete opposite of classical philosophy, which interpreted emotions as primary impulses: according to Nussbaum, emotions are at the center of the philosophy of ethics, and empathy is related to them.

It is a decline of empathy in intimate and social relationships that now drives us to explore emotions and find ways to improve our emotional profiles. As the ability to understand the emotions, thoughts, and acts of others, empathy provides access to the experiences of others and, at the same time, it allows us to learn more about ourselves. Various disciplines, not only bibliotherapy, have shown that people, as part of a cybernetic system and governance (Matz), need literature to become more responsible toward themselves, other people, other living beings, and the environment. In reading Slovenian literature and, first and foremost, in interpreting and reflecting on it, attention to emotions will be explored at the symposium in terms of all four elements of literary communication: the text, reader, context, and author.

Focusing on the text, there are several premises that still need to be explored. We will be interested in how emotions are represented in the text, and what their role and significance are for the text as a whole or for individual passages. Attention will also be directed to the linguistic and stylistic devices used to express emotions and various manners of verbalization (description, narration, and speech) in narrative, poetry, and drama. This type of literary studies and linguistics research would involve not only analysis of the literary subject, but also observation of specific moods, stylistic approaches (figures and metaphors), and ethical effects of a specific emotional and aesthetic situation within the text as well as the reader’s interpretation and experience.

Just like the focus on the text, a focus on the reader includes a variety of areas. In terms of literary history, it covers not only various ways of expressing emotions from the earliest Slovenian literary texts to the present, but also the emotional responses to (emotional) texts in the sense of critiques, reviews, studies, diaries, and correspondence. The reception of Slovenian literature through an emotional lens can pay special attention to the experience and the process of literary interpretation because this can contribute to better empathy, while at the same time offering greater pleasure and enjoyment in developing literary competence (Zupan Sosič). Among theorists, a focus on experience is argued for by the representatives of affective hermeneutics (e.g., Felski and Vernay), who, first and foremost, advocate a “cogmotive” approach to literature, which effectively combines cognitive and emotional processes. Experiencing literature as a process of literary interpretation is especially important in teaching Slovenian literature at all levels, which would be addressed by research on teaching approaches, methods, and principles. The exploration of emotions in Slovenian literature also raises the general issues of evaluation. How do literary critics and historians evaluate the quality of emotional expression in literature? What role do anthologies, literary awards, competitions, and festivals play in this context?

When observing the entire literary communication, which moves from the author via the literary product to the reader, it is also key to highlight inclusion in the social and cultural environment, or the study of context, in elucidating emotions in Slovenian literature. This involves not only examining the Slovenian experience and understanding of emotions in various literary periods and movements, but also analyzing Slovenian literature in relation to emotions beyond Slovenia’s borders: works by Slovenians in cross-border areas and elsewhere around the world as a fundamental and primary (rather than marginal or secondary) part of Slovenian literature. A holistic image of literature and, first and foremost, its comparative analysis should also be contributed to by a review of multidirectional literary production, an analysis of the state of translations of Slovenian literature into other languages, of course with emphasis on emotional dimensions, and an examination of the position of Slovenian literature within the wider context of world literature.

Obdobja 44, titled Emotions and Slovenian Literature, seeks to explore the significance and role of emotions in various genres and types of Slovenian literature, while also analyzing the linguistic and stylistic elements of narrative, poetry, and drama within various periods, movements, and directions. It will dedicate special attention to literature reception, reflection, evaluation, and teaching, with emphasis on emotions, and will explore the emotional richness of Slovenian literature in Slovenia and beyond. In this way, the symposium will not only elucidate the presence of emotions in Slovenian literature, but also contribute to a better experience and understanding of emotions, which is vital for strengthening empathy in today’s society.

Prof. Dr. Alojzija Zupan Sosič, presidents of the 44th Obdobja Symposium

1. The role and significance of emotions in Slovenian literature as a combination of various currents, directions, movements, groups, individuals, and poetics within the broader social and cultural contexts.
2. Examination of emotions in specific genres and types of Slovenian literature.
3. Representation of emotions in literary texts, and their role and significance for the entire text or individual passages.
4. Analysis of manners of verbalization in narrative, poetry, and drama, and the linguistic and stylistic elements in Slovenian literature through a prism of emotions.
5. Reception, reflection, and evaluation of emotional categories in Slovenian literature.
6. Teaching Slovenian literature with emphasis on the emotional approach and response: approaches, methods, and principles of such teaching in primary and secondary schools and at the university.
7. Emotional richness of Slovenian literature in Slovenia and beyond, and within the comparative context of world literature, with special emphasis on translations.

The Symposium is organised by The Centre for Slovene as a Second and Foreign Language at the Department of Slovene Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Trubarjeva cesta 3, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Symposium president

Prof. Dr. Alojzija Zupan Sosič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
E: [email protected]

Symposium organisers

Assist. Prof. Dr. Damjan Huber, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
Teja Rebernik, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
Brigita Zahirović, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
E: [email protected]
T: 00386 1 241 86 76

Technical editors of symposium publications

Matej Klemen, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
Mag. Mateja Lutar, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts

• Prof. Dr. Silvija Borovnik, University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Jožica Čeh Steger, University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts
• Assist. Prof. Dr. Alenka Jensterle Doležal, Charles University, Faculty of Arts, Czechia
• Assist. Prof. Dr. Andraž Jež, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Marko Juvan, Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute of Slovenian Literature and Literary Studies; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Simona Kranjc, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivana Latković, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Croatia
• Assist. Prof. Dr. Mojca Nidorfer, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Vlasta Novak Zabukovec, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darja Pavlič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Mateja Pezdirc Bartol, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Vera Smole, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Mojca Smolej, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Hotimir Tivadar, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Alojzija Zupan Sosič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Prof. Dr. Tanja Žigon, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts
• Assist. Prof. Dr. Igor Žunkovič, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Arts

University of Ljubljana (main building, 1st floor), Kongresni trg 12, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Registration will take place until 20 January 2025 via the symposium website (Symposium Obdobja 44, Registration Form). Upon registration, a summary needs to be submitted of around 250 words, including proposed references. By 1 February 2025 applicants will receive notice of acceptance.

When selecting contributions, we will take into account the theme and its relevance to the section chosen, as well as clarity, comprehensiveness, variety and innovativity.

The deadline for submission of papers is 5 May 2025 (up to 20,000 characters with spaces, including literature and notes). Guidelines for formatting the text will be sent to authors via email and will also be published on the symposium website.

Before printing, contributions will be subject to blind review by two peer reviewers, and authors will be notified of the reviewers’ evaluation by 1 July 2025 at the latest.

The final (corrected) version of the paper will need to be submitted by 20 July 2025; notification of inclusion in the symposium programme will be sent to participants by 20 September 2025.

Papers will be published in a thematically rounded monograph which participants will receive at the event and which will also be freely available on the website of the Centre for Slovene in the section Obdobja publications.

The fee for taking part and presenting a paper is 100 EUR and includes a folder containing symposium material, the publication of the paper, the symposium proceedings, the accompanying programme, lunches and event organisation. Participants will be sent an invoice via e-mail. 10 November 2025 is the deadline for the payment of the registration fee.

The time available for the presentation is 20 minutes. Working languages will be Slovene and English; by prior agreement with the organisers the use of another language is possible.

Participants must book and cover the cost of accommodation themselves. Addresses of Ljubljana hotels are provided below.

Hotel Emonec***
Wolfova 12, Ljubljana
T: 00386 51 399 814, 00386 1 200 15 20
E: [email protected]
W: https://www.hotel-emonec.com/sl/
Distance from the University: 5 min

Hotel Mrak***
Rimska cesta 4, Ljubljana
T: 00386 1 421 96 50
E: [email protected]
W: https://hotelmrak.si
Distance from the University: 5 min

City Hotel Ljubljana***
Dalmatinova 15, Ljubljana
T: 00386 1 239 00 00
E: [email protected]
W: https://www.cityhotel.si
Distance from the University: 15 min

Hotel Park***
Tabor 9, Ljubljana
T: 00386 1 300 25 00
E: [email protected]
W: https://www.hotel-bb.com/sl/hotel/ljubljana-park
Distance from the University: 20 min

Hotel Slon****
Slovenska 34, Ljubljana
T: 00386 1 470 11 00
E: [email protected]
W: https://www.hotelslon.com/sl
Distance from the University: 5 min