An Invitation to Write
"Bliet (u Miti)" - Rereading Our Hi/story
The
Mediterranean cultural organization Inizjamed is inviting authors to
submit original and unpublished works of poetry or prose in Maltese
on the theme,
“Cities (and Myths) – rereading our hi/story” by
5 August, 2002. These works will be presented in Inizjamed’s
major artistic event to be held this year that will take place in the
maritime city of Birgu (Vittoriosa) in the last week of August. The chosen
works will be published in book form by Inizjamed.
The
theme for this year’s creative writing project run by Inizjamed will be
the re-intepretation of Malta’s identity with particular attention to
the fundamental role played the maritime cities in linking the Maltese
Islands to the Mediterranean and to the world in general. “One
of the most important characteristics of urban civilization,” writes
historian Dr. Carmel Cassar, “is cultural diversity and
heterogeneity.” In the case of Malta, “the heavy influx, into the new
urban areas, of foreigners and people from the countryside, beginning from
the sixteenth century, altered the ethnic character of the population;”
urban culture developed a very different character from “peasant
mentality.”
“Obviously
city life, independently of class attachments, ethnic identity and other
traditional prejudices, was looked upon by the indigenous population as
‘alien,’ right from the very beginning of the Order’s rule.” The
immense surge of activities made Malta “one of the busiest centres of
the Mediterranean.” The flow of people in and out of Malta reached
unprecedented proportions from the middle of the sixteenth century
onwards. It served to create a cosmopolitan atmosphere that impressed
itself on the character of Valletta and helped to enrich the country
especially in the more creative activities.”
In
the eighteenth century, and in many ways even today, “Peasant
culture could be mythified, refused, despised, but when formulating an
ethnic consciousness, the intellectuals had to somehow show that they
‘belonged’ to this common peasant heritage. In brief, rural symbolism
had to be invoked in order to resist foreign cultural encroachments and
preserve ancient modes of behaviour, considered indispensable for Maltese
ethnic survival.”
Miro
Villar, a leading Spanish writer from Galicia, will also be in Malta to
lead a number of writing workshops for small groups of budding and
established writers. He will also be focusing on the ways in which writers
can collaborate with artists from other fields, like photography and
music, to enhance their work. Miro Villar will be taking part in the
literary and artistic event that will take place in Birgu in the last week
of August.
The
“Bliet (u Miti)” artistic project, which began in April, has drawn
together a number of writers, sculptors, painters, musicians, and actors.
The project is being run with the support of Bay Street, the Birgu Local
Council, NSTS, and the Parliamentary Secretariat in the Ministry of
Education.
Those
who would like to participate in this artistic project by submitting their
literary work are encouraged to read Chapter 9, "Maltese Culture:
Symbols and Reality", of Carmel Cassar book, Society,
Culture and Identity in Early Modern Malta
(Mireva, 2000).
Writings
should reach Inizjamed by 5 August, 2002, ideally by email, at inizjamed@maltaforum.org.
Alternatively, works can be sent to 325, Triq Tonna Barthet, Pembroke,
STJ14 or by fax to 2137 3272. For more information visit Inizjamed’s
website at http://inizjamed.cjb.net
or phone Adrian Grima (2137 6941) or
Karsten Xuereb (2137 2993).
Adrian Grima
19.7.02
