In the U.S., the separation between fiction and non-fiction is very black-and-white, with exceptions on occasion such as Three Cups of Tea. In France, I recently learned, it is more gray. Appearing at a panel on French-American Fiction at the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), several French and U.S. writers spoke on The Original Copy: Borrowed Voices, Stolen Stories.
French novelist Yannick Haenel wrote of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising leader Jan Karski,
using a hybrid between documentary and fiction. Photo: Junenoire Mitchell.
The presentation, made in partnership with Bookforum magazine and the French arts and ideas non-profit group Villa Gillet, was part of FIAF's Literary Series: Write About Now. Speaking in the French Institute's spectacular Le Skyroom on East 60th Street in Manhattan, the authors engaged in a lively forum on the fascinating topic. Bookforum follows Artforum's lead, providing coverage by and about the world's best authors.
The Villa Gillet, based in Lyon, brings together artists, writers, and researchers for debate on issues facing the world today. This reading was also was the last event of the second season of Villa Gillet's Walls and Bridges series, which will return to New York for its third season in October.
American Siva Vaidhyanathan of the University of Virginia spoke about his works, The Googlization of Everything and Copyrights and Copywrongs. Photo: Junenoire Mitchell.
The presenters were literary heavy hitters, representing writers living in both the U.S. and France. They included:
Yannick Haenel (France). Yannick's book Jan Karski, not yet available in English, makes free use of holocaust testimony given by a member of the Resistance movement to create a hybrid between documentary and fiction. Karski bio.
Laurent Nunez (France). Laurent Nunez wrote Les Récidivistes, a novel in the form of an autobiography using styles and voices of great French writers: Marcel Proust, Jean Genet, Marguerite Duras, and Pascal Quignard. He edits what seems to me to be The New Yorker of Paris, Magazine Litteraire.
Victoria Patterson (U.S.). Victoria is the author of the just-published novel This Vacant Paradise, loosely based on Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth. Her novel was well received by The New York Times (review).
Siva Vaidhyanathan (U.S.). Siva, based at the University of Virginia, is the author of two cleverly named books, The Googlization of Everything and and Copyrights and Copywrongs: The Rise of Intellectual Property and How it Threatens Creativity.
French Institute Alliance Française president Marie-Monique Steckel
welcomed the illustrious panel to FIAF's le Skyroom. Photo: Junenoire Mitchell.
Moderated by Chris Lehmann, Bookforum editor, the dynamic discussion sought to find cultural common ground at New York's premiere French cultural center. Chris, looking a cross between a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and an NYU professor, is co-editor of Bookforum and deputy editor for the Yahoo! News blog The Upshot. He is also a columnist for TheAwl.com, and recently authored the book Rich People Things.
FIAF posited, "Literature and art have always relied on quotes, borrowings, and outright embezzlements. Today, these practices are made even easier with new technologies. But is originality an outmoded concept?" The panel turned to the thorny issue of intellectual property and global copyright law.
French writer and editor Laurent Nunez of France (checkered shirt) participated in the English-language panel and discussed his work Les Récidivistes. Photo: Junenoire Mitchell.
Siva, an expert on copyright, explained that there are essentially four areas of copyright practices: Europe, Canada and the U.S., the developing world, and the worldwide web.
Yannick, an author, appeared somewhat disheveled, adding to his intellectual air. He surprised me by standing against copyright law, stating, "My dream is that everyone would copy me on the Internet." Yannick pointed out that an author today is so much less than a rock star - "almost nothing."
The panel was moderated by Chris Lehmann, Bookforum editor, TheAwl.com columnist, and author the book Rich People Things. Photo: Junenoire Mitchell.
Interestingly petite yet rugged, Laurent too spoke against copyright. Both French writers bemoaned the fact that although the word "author" stems from authority, the French public no longer awarded their literary giants with the same respect that they used to. However, this also liberates the French writer, it was noted.
Photo courtesy David Ignaszewski-Koboy.
I spoke to my new friend, Marie-Monique Steckel, president of the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) about the program:
FIAF's mission is to create and offer New Yorkers innovative and unique programs in education and the arts that explore the evolving diversity and richness of French cultures. FIAF seeks to generate new ideas and promote cross-cultural dialogue through partnerships and new platforms of expression.
Photo courtesy David Ignaszewski-Koboy.
Guy Walter, Directeur of Villa Gillet, was perhaps most helpful in filling in the gaps of my missing Francophone literary knowledge during the reception that followed. He explained to me afterwards:
The literary distinction between fiction and nonfiction is much more debated in the U.S. than France. It's interesting for the French to hear about Americans' interest in this distinction, and I believe the American audience was surprised that, in France, for instance, we don't classify books in bookstores or newspapers as fiction or non-fiction.
So this is the heart of Walls and Bridges, to promote a dialogue between French and American writers, critics, and thinkers. The level of tonight's discussion I think is a testament to how much there is to be discussed when provocative, thoughtful people are brought together with an enthusiastic, interested audience.
We look forward to returning to New York in October for the third season of Walls and Bridges, with about 15 events featuring artists, performers, musicians, and writers - whatever their classification!
The highbrow panel was part of the Villa Gillet's exciting Walls and Bridges series, presenting nearly fifty cultural events in New York City in 2011.
Although I was a Japanese contemporary fiction major in college, my father specialized in contemporary French literature - giving me some background to better appreciate the French Institute Alliance Française's panel on The Original Copy: Borrowed Voices, Stolen Stories. Here in New York we all are global thinkers to some capacity. To become a better global thinker, attend some of the superb programming at the Institute. Le monde a besoin de leaders d'opinion qui soient en plus des citoyens du monde qui apprécient la littérature moderne!
The French Institute Alliance Française is committed to culture. Photo: Junenoire Mitchell.
French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)
22 East 60th Street (between Park & Madison Avenues)
New York, N.Y. 10022
212 355 6100 / reception@fiaf.org
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