Marie-Lise Drapeau-Bisson explored the value of classic literature to the feminist movement during a lecture held as part of the Feminist Institute of Social Transformation’s (FIST) Feminist Futures series on Nov. 14.
Drapeau-Bisson, a postdoctoral fellow at Carleton and a self-identified social movement scholar, discussed the role of old books in keeping the feminist movement alive across decades.
“I’m proposing to understand old books as a way to connect different generations of feminists,” she said at the lecture.
The event provided an intimate setting for Drapeau-Bisson to introduce classic literature’s ability to keep momentum going across decades of activism. The talk painted a picture of how old books and art born from activism can create community, maintain hope within social movements and provide practical insights to advocacy across generations.
According to Drapeau-Bisson, by delving into old works, present feminists can connect with the wisdom of earlier activists and integrate those ideas into modern issues.
“They can take on a new life 20, 30, 40 years later and can work to connect these different generations,” she said.
Using Montreal feminist bookstore, L’Euguélionne, as an example, Drapeau-Bisson showcased how naming the store after the sexism-challenging 1976 feminist novel by Louky Bersanik has anchored the store in feminist tradition.
Bersanik’s L’Euguélionne is often hailed as the first major Quebecois feminist novel.
The store, opened in 2016, stands as a testament to the power of honouring old books when building community spaces. The values of L’Euguélionne guide the store’s current collection.
Emma Martin, a fourth-year English student at Carleton and event attendee, felt encouraged by the lecture.
“[The talk] definitely inspired me to seek out more feminist classics that I might have looked over before,” Martin said.
Other classics discussed during the talk included the culture and colonialism exploring Je suis une maudite sauvagesse by Innu author An Antane Kapesh and Louky Bersianik: entretiens avec France Théoret, a short story by France Théoret that details some of her final conversations with Bersanik.
Students and faculty from diverse backgrounds and disciplines composed the audience.
Ann Cvetkovich, Drapeau-Bisson’s supervisor and a FIST professor, said she was pleased to see attendees from various backgrounds.
“It’s interesting to see who’s drawn to [this talk] and who, from a range of places, understands that we can turn to books as a way to understand feminist history,” Cvetkovich said.
The Feminist Futures series began about a decade ago and started as a way to share research and create community within the department. Series events normally take the form of academic talks or lectures.
After the inclusion of sexuality studies, disability studies and critical race theory under FIST’s umbrella, Feminist Futures evolved to connect scholars across diverse fields.
A consistent theme throughout Feminist Futures and Drapeau-Bisson’s lecture is the need to build community and connection. Outside of the content, the event granted opportunities to socialize and connect with people who may share interests.
“I appreciate the opportunity to do programming that brings people together. People see [FIST] as a hub for students at all levels, that is, undergrads and grad students in all majors, as well as faculty,” Cvetkovich said.
Drapeau-Bisson said her talk highlighted the profound impact of activist artworks across history. She believes that in the darkest times, hope and community are the “lifeblood” keeping social movements afloat.
“[Activist artworks] can make us feel connected to a community in times that are hard, where we feel disconnected or lonely,” Drapeau-Bisson said.
Featured graphic by Alisha Velji/The Charlatan.
