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THE George Town Literary Festival 2021 opens today with the theme Mikro-cosmos, exploring the spirit of cosmopolitanism and interconnectedness that endures through literature, language and ideas, even as the troubles of today atomise our existence and deepen social fragmentation.
From the mundane realm to the cosmological imagination, GTLF 2021: Mikro-cosmos will explore how the wilderness and freedom of our shared creativity are encapsulated and expressed in the diverse works of literature of our region and beyond.
Darker avenues of internationalism and power such as colonialism, imperialism, and extremism are also considered in the conversations taking place at this year’s festival.
The festival is directed by Pauline Fan and curated by Izzuddin Ramli, both respected figures in Malaysia’s trove of writers and translators. GTLF is supported by the State Government of Penang and 2021 marks the sixth year GTLF will be produced by Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).
As with last year’s festival, GTLF will once again feature mostly online conversations. GTLF 2021 will offer a vast and engaging programme that includes a series of specially curated podcasts (available through streaming platform Spotify) and videos in English and Bahasa Malaysia, with six live events happening over the weekend. The festival lineup and full programme can be viewed here.
Live events on Saturday
10.30am-11.30am at the Penang Diocesan Museum Hall
Book Launch: French Connections in Troubled Times: The Japanese Occupation of Penang
Serge Jardin and Teoh Seng Aun
A handwritten diary was meticulously kept by Father Marcel Rouhan, the Director of the College General in Penang, during World War Two. While most Allied citizens were evacuated before the entry of the Japanese troops, the French missionaries remained behind as ‘neutral’ subjects.
The Diary, therefore, is an exceptional eyewitness account of the Japanese occupation in Malaya. As a chronicle of stories of daily survival interspersed with descriptions of major events, the Diary teems with socio-historical details.
The Diary has been translated, introduced, and annotated by Serge Jardin, a French author long domiciled in Malaysia. Join Serge Jardin for the book launch of Diary of a French Missionary: Penang during the Japanese Occupation, published by Areca Books.
2.00pm-3.00 pm, UAB Building
Hang Tuah — Adiwira Bangsa. Conversation: Raihani Saaid with Steven Sim and Muhammad Haji Salleh
Talks about Hang Tuah, from the past to the present, have often focused on proving whether the figure is mythical or historical. But for Steven Sim, a writer who happens to be active in politics, the question is over and no longer important.
For him, the best character in Malay classical literature embraces the values of the ages – both courage and heroism, loyalty and friendship – that this nation must uphold. In this conversation, Raihani Saaid sits down with Steven Sim and national writer Muhammad Haji Salleh. They will explore the paths taken by Steven in getting to know Hang Tuah and Malay culture in general in more depth.
6pm at UAB Building.
Book Launch: MUARA: Confluence|Pertemuan
Pauline Fan, Izzuddin Ramli, Hafiz Hamzah, Badrul Hisham Ismail
To celebrate the decade of GTLF that has passed, GTLF is collaborating with Svara journal to produce a special publication called Muara. Taking its name from the Malay word for estuary, Muara is a passage of fluidity and connection, where the river meets the open sea.
In these pages, writers engage in ideas and imaginings, interpreting the shifting shoreline of our realities. Featuring essays, lectures, short stories, poetry, book reviews, and translations, Muara gathers established and emerging writers from Malaysia, the region, and the world. The book will be launched in conjunction with GTLF 2021.
Live events on Sunday
10.30am-11.30am, Angier & Borden, Level 4, The Prestige Hotel
Two Malaysian Folktales: A Storytelling session by Heidi Shamsuddin (for 9-13-year-olds)
Storyteller Heidi Shamsuddin takes us into the magical world of Malaysian folktales, offering two captivating tales for young listeners: ‘The Biggest Basket in the World’ is a strange and wonderful story of how a magical talking knife manages to persuade the laziest girl in the world to weave the biggest basket in the world. ‘The Tale of Hitam Manis’ is a dark folktale that contains the secret to harvesting the coveted tualang honey from the tallest tree in the rainforest.
2pm-3pm, Angier & Borden, The Prestige Hotel
Little Worlds of Make-Believe with Wan Phing Lim and Regina Ibrahim in conversation with Marc de Faoite
What compels a writer to write? Is it an irrepressible need to tell a story, to delight in the play of the imagination, or perhaps as a form of escapism? In this conversation, Penang-born writer Wan Phing Lim, and Penang-based writers Regina Ibrahim and Marc de Faoite discuss the complexities of character and world-building in their short stories. They also explore the challenges of bringing a story to life and inviting readers to participate as co-creators in their little worlds of make-believe.
4pm-5pm, Angier & Borden, The Prestige Hotel
Anthology as Microcosm, a conversation with Anna Tan and Deric Ee
Anthologies are textual communities, a microcosm of a larger literary society. In this conversation, Anna Tan, editor of Penang-themed ‘Home Groan’, and Deric Ee, editor of ‘KL Noir: Magic’, share their thoughts and experiences on how they put together these recently-published anthologies.
What kind of conceptual ideas and editorial decisions go into the making of an anthology? What do editors look for in the works they curate, select or commission? Anna and Deric also consider how their respective anthologies capture the distinctive spirit of place and people — of Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
As seats are limited, visitors are encouraged to register to attend the live sessions happening over the weekend. Just click on the event you are interested in attending at the GTLF website. – The Vibes, November 25, 2021
For more information:
Website: www.georgetownlitfest.com
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Town_Literary_Festival
