KAURISMÄKI-SYMPOSIUM
Symposium: "Disjointed Visions: The Cinema of Aki Kaurismäki"
Friday May 8, 2009
University of Helsinki
All Presentations to be held in Main Building, Room 13 (päärakennus, sali 13, (Fabianinkatu 33)
Sponsors: Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, Department of Finnish language and literature, University of Helsinki; Institute for Art Research, University of Helsinki
Organisers: Andrew Nestingen (Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies), Henry Bacon (Institute for Art Research, University of Helsinki), Jyrki Nummi (Department of Finnish language and literature, University of Helsinki)
Free admission. Welcome!
Critics writing on Aki Kaurismäki’s cinema have come to a consensus about his status as a national auteur. Scholars have debated the films’ cinematic treatment of nostalgia and melancholy, the parameters of national cinema and European cinema in the face of film culture’s globalization, as well as Kaurismäki’s films’ status with respect to postmodern aesthetics and culture. The title of the symposium refers to the ironic and contradictory character of Kaurismäki’s films, but also to the multiple perspectives possible in approaches to Kaurismäki’s cinema. The symposium brings together a diverse group of scholars to challenge the categories of debate, invigorate critical and scholarly discussion of it, and to broaden conceptions Kaurismäki’s work. Thomas Elsaesser and Peter Schepelern will provide European views while a crossdiciplinary group of Finnish scholars will provide fresh perspectives from the Finnish cultural context.
Programme
9.30
Opening Remarks
9.40
"Music in the Films of Aki Kaurismäki", Erkki Pekkilä (University of Helsinki)
Commentator: Susanna Välimäki (University of Helsinki)
10.45
Coffee break
11.15
"Hitting Bottom: Kaurismäki's Abject Subjects", Thomas Elsaesser (University of Amsterdam)
Commentator: Henry Bacon (University of Helsinki)
12.45
Lunch break
14.00
"The Children of Saturn: The Dynamics of Melancholy in Aki Kaurismäki's Films", Satu Kyösola (University of Art and Design, Helsinki)
Commentator: Sara Heinämaa (Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies)
15.00
"How Differences Make Finnishness: Ironic Nostalgia in Kaurismäki's Films", Seppo Knuuttila (University of Joensuu)
Commentator: Jyrki Nummi (University of Helsinki)
16.00
Coffee break
16.30
"The Element of Crime and Punishment: Aki Kaurismäki as Nordic Auteur", Peter Schepelern (University of Copenhagen)
Commentator: Susanna Paasonen (Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies)
17.45
Closing Remarks
**
Perjantaina 8.5.2009 klo 9.30-18.00 Helsingin yliopiston tutkijakollegium järjestää symposiumin "Disjointed Visions: The Cinema of Aki Kaurismäki".
Vapaa pääsy. Tervetuloa!
Sponsorit: Tutkijakollegium; Tieteellisten seurain valtuuskunta; Suomen kielen ja kotimaisen kirjallisuuden laitos, HY; Taiteiden tutkimuksen laitos, HY, Sputnik Oy.
Järjestäjät: Andrew Nestingen (tutkijakollegium), Henry Bacon (Taiteiden tutkimuksen laitos), Jyrki Nummi (Suomen kielen ja kotimaisen kirjallisuuden laitos)
Paikka: Helsingin yliopiston päärakennus, sali 13 (Fabianinkatu 33). Vapaa pääsy.
Symposiumin ohjelma netissä http://www.helsinki.fi/collegium/events/kaurismaki.htm