Long Waves and Global Frequencies: World Literature and Broadcast Culture at the End of Empire

A conference hosted by the Yesu Persaud Centre for Caribbean Studies, University of Warwick, UK

Thursday 4th and Friday 5th September, 2014

Keynote Speakers included: Professor Alison Donnell (University of Reading), Professor Audrey Gadzekpo (University of Ghana), Dr James Procter (Newcastle University), Professor Helen Yitah (University of Ghana)

Bringing together literary criticism, global book history, biographical writing and cultural studies, this conference examined the interconnected history of broadcast culture across three continents in the post-war era. Papers explored the stylistic and political contours of literary production in the Caribbean, West Africa, and the UK, paying particular attention to the cultural and media networks through which texts and performances circulated. We were especially interested in the role played by literary agents and publishers, broadcasting platforms such as Radio Ghana, individual radio programmes such as Caribbean Voices, and the mediating influence of institutions such as the BBC. Mapping the uneven production, circulation, and reception of cultural forms within the world-system at the time of decolonization, the conference shed new light on the dynamics of the literary marketplace and the global linkages that existed between diverse literary and media productions.

Recordings of all keynote talks and panels sessions fromt he conference can be found here: Long Waves and Global Frequencies, Recordings

The conference pack can be found here: Conference Pack; and see below for programme and bios of speakers: