Wednesday, April 29, 2009

SYMPOSIUM: Georgia at the Crossroads of European and Asian Cultures (georgiandaily.com)

The Harriman Institute, Columbia University Presents Symposium on Georgian Culture at the Crossroads

Georgia at the Crossroads of European and Asian Cultures
Culture as a tool for the mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue

Monday, May 4, 10:00 am – 19:00 pm
Kellogg Center, 15th Floor, SIPA building
420 W 118th Street. New York, NY

Georgian culture, an integral part of Caucasian civilization, has been and is created at the crossroads of European and Asian influences. Over the centuries this culture has represented tolerance and mutual understanding, and while keeping its national identity it emphasizes the potential breadth and depth and rewards of intercultural relations maintained with understanding and integrity.

Today, such understanding is a central and urgent issue, given the cultural and ethnic situation in Georgia’s conflict regions – Shida (inner) Kartli, the so-called “South Ossetia” and Abkhazeti, especially in terms of analysis and awareness from the historical point of view.

In addition to the political and humanitarian problems there is also great danger for these two regions’ cultural identity and their historical monuments. Academic knowledge in this field is very limited and therefore raises the importance of the scholarly work and discussion in the fields of culture, history and ethnicity in these territories.

The different historical epochs provides the best historical documentation and evidence of the formation of these regional identities and provides proof of tolerance and peaceful coexistence between these regions and the nations adjoining them. The conference’s thematic timeframe will not be limited to any of periods but will cover all cultural epochs including nowadays.

Programm >>>

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