Faulkner workshop to begin Monday

Amanda Kesel
DM Staff Intern

"Faulkner in the 21st Century" is the theme for the 27th annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference at Ole Miss July 23 through 28.

Donald M. Kartiganer is the director of the conference and the William Howry Professor of Faulkner Studies at Ole Miss.

"The intent of the conference is to consider some of those dimensions of Faulkner that have not been addressed adequately -- in some cases have not been addressed at all," Kartiganer said.

Faulkner lived and wrote during the 20th century but usually about the ante-bellum and postbellum South of the 19th century. The conference will focus on how Faulkner's writings will be relevant to the century ahead and explore the possible changes in the way we read Faulkner.

º"Somehow the books are born anew, they reflect the truths of a world he could never have imagined. As Faulkner once wrote, 'The aim of every artist is to arrest motion, which is life, by artificial means and hold it fixed so that a hundred years later, when a stranger looks at it, it moves again since it is life,'" Kartiganer said.

The conference will also examine the author and his literature outside of his real time and place and the issue of race and Native Americans in Faulkner's work.

It will be sponsored by the Center for the Study of Southern Culture and the Ole Miss English Department. Faulkner scholars from universities all over the nation will be speaking.

In addition to formal lectures, the conference features a showing of Ross Spear's film "Tell About the South," a history of 1915 - 1940 Southern literature; and a reading by novelist Larry Brown.

There will also be discussions by Faulkner friends and family and sessions on teaching Faulkner.

The university library will display Faulkner books, manuscripts, films, photographs and memorabilia and other Faulkner books presented by the University Press of Mississippi.

Events begin Sunday with a museum tour, an afternoon of Faulkner readings, songs by a gospel choir, and the announcement of winners of the 11th annual Faux Faulkner contest.

Other scheduled events include an evening buffet at Dr. and Mrs. M.B. Howorth Jr.'s home, a picnic at Rowan Oak, a party at Will and Patti Lewis's home, circa 1859, and other tours of North Mississippi.

Bonnie Reid, a high school English teacher has attended a previous Faulkner conference and is very excited about this year's conference.

"It is so much fun," Reid said. "The conference is wonderful, the food, the lectures, speaking with experts in the fields, scholars, everything, and I am sure it will be great this year too."

Costs of the program are $175 for students, $200 for friends of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, and $225 for others. The cost includes admission into all programmed sessions and special events. The fee does not include lodging, optional tours of Faulkner country, and food, except those already mentioned.

A $50 deposit made payable to The University of Mississippi should be submitted with a conference registration form. An additional $25 is required if registering for optional tours. All other fees are payable at registration on Sunday.

For more information, contact the Institute for Continuing Studies, P.O. Box 879, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677-0879; telephone 662-915-7282; fax 662-915-5138, e-mail cstudies@olemiss.edu.

Registration forms are available on line at www.ics.olemiss.edu/events/faulkner_yoknapatwapha_2000.html.