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Joyful Rebels of the 18th Century
Named after the
bags they carried around their necks and famed for keeping mystery, romance,
religious, and cook books circulating among the greater masses in 18th and 19th
century France, colporteurs evaded official censorship and evoked adventure and
resistance at the margins of society. They were rebels of a joyful sort and
enabled their clients and patrons to see beyond their present constraints.
Inspire, Celebrate, Transcend
In every culture, there are people who are repositories of diversity and daring.
Like colporteurs, these people keep memories and alternatives that may have languished
in the mainstream alive. Storytellers, seed-savers, folk musicians, basket
makers, quilters, herbalists, and cooks are examples of colporteurs in our midst
today. They embody other slices of knowledge apart from the academic sciences
and humanities, inspiring us to celebrate life and transcend boundaries of
discipline and time.
Our Goal ...
Yet -- or as can be expected -- they are generally outsiders to the scholarly
community. By inviting these creative, sovereign individuals to stay on campus
for one week, interact with students and faculty on an informal basis, speak to
various classes, and make public presentations to the Athens community, the
Colporteurs-in-Residence Program aims to foreground skills and practices that
draw deeply on tradition yet are dynamic and continuously evolving. In doing so
this program hopes to underscore the value of different paradigms, encourage
fruitful encounters, and enhance individual as well as collective creativity and
tolerance. |
