Mediterranean got discussed in the context of history, culture, migration, and identity
A discussion titled “Round Table: The Mediterranean, such a strange word!” was organized in The Institut français İzmir. During the event, participants examined the Mediterranean in the context of history, culture, migration, memory, and identity.
The speakers at the discussion included Ezgi Şairoğlu from the Mediterranean Academy project team, French author Laurent Gaudé, sociologist Ferhat Kentel, researcher-writer Ruggero Mainetti, filmmaker Nesim Bencoya, and business person Guillaume Pagy.
As part of the Francophonie events organized by Institut Français Türkiye, Ezgi Şairoğlu introduced the Mediterranean Academy and presented its projects during the round table discussion.
Juliette Bompoint, Director of Institut Français Izmir, in the opening speech of the event stated, “The Mediterranean is not just a sea; it is a geography of memories, migrations, multilayered identities, encounters, and separations. Discussing this diversity and thinking together are very valuable for us. I sincerely thank Mr. Gaudé and all the speakers who contributed.”
Laurent Gaudé said on the other hand: “For me, the Mediterranean is not a geography; it is a state of mind. It is a sea of narratives carrying the traces of migrations, exiles, sorrows, and encounters. Perhaps that is why I keep writing; since the Mediterranean is still full of untold stories. In each of your stories, there was a truth that I could not put into words but that I felt. This diversity, this shared memory, fascinated me. Being here this evening felt like taking one more step toward those untold stories.”
Laurent Gaudé was awarded the Goncourt Prize in 2004 for his novel The Scorta’s Sun. Gaudé’s works have been translated into 34 languages.
