In the eighty years since the end of the Second World War, perspectives on the Shoah have evolved significantly, shaped by geopolitical and social factors. These changes have icluded a shift from silence towards visibility, fascination, privatization, instrumentalization or, conversely, marginalization. Today, the global debate is revisiting the question of preserving the historical memory of the Shoah in the context of migration and debates on postcolonialism again. As historical distance grows, new generations of writers, artists, and scholars face the challenge of representing this trauma in ways that engage contemporary audiences while remaining anchored in historical memory.
The conference seeks to examine how the legacy of the Shoah continues to shape literary expression today, tracing its global trajectories. It will explore multilingual perspectives, comparative readings, and transnational approaches to the subject. Key areas of focus include:
- Narrative innovation in Shoah literature after 2000
- Intergenerational transmission of trauma
- Ethical questions surrounding representation
- The intersection of Shoah literature with emerging cultural and technologically mediated frameworks.
Additionally, the conference will address the evolving role of testimony in an era without first-generation witnesses, the impact of digital and multimedia storytelling, and the ways in which contemporary literature negotiates the boundaries of fiction, memoir, and historical documentation.
The conference will be followed by an author readings panel as part of the 18th Volume of the multi-genre festival “Never Again?” Days of Jewish Culture Olomouc“, developing the conference topic. The presenting authors will be invited to participate in discussions within the conference as well.
By bringing together scholars and writers, this event aims to foster dialogue on the ongoing relevance of Shoah narratives in global cultural memory and their transformative impact on post-2000 literature across and beyond linguistic and national borders.
We invite established and young researchers particulary from Europe, including PhD students, to submit proposals for papers by 31 August 2025. Authors of accepted papers will be notified by email after 15 September 2025.
Call for Papers:
https://1url.cz/@cfp
Application Form:
https://forms.gle/ZBs9oLjfrNByJKjw5
Conference Details:
Date: November 5–6, 2025
Hosting Institution: Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic
Venue: Mozarteum, Archdiocesan Museum Olomouc, Václavské nám. 811
Conference Language: English
Presentation Duration: 15-20 minutes
Applications: by 31 August 2025
Contact Person: Ivana Cahová | Email:
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Accommodation costs (3 nights for non-Czech residents, 2 nights for Czech residents) and a limited travel allowance will be covered for accepted speakers.
Organizing Partner Institutions:
Palacký University Olomouc (Center for Jewish Studies, Department of Czech Studies, Department of Dutch Studies)
Catholic University in Lublin (International Centre for Research of the History and Cultural Heritage of the Central and Eastern European Jews)
Royal Holloway, University of London (Holocaust Research Institute)
The conference is supported by the European Association for Jewish Studies Conference Grant Programme.
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