The international seminar series “Entangled Histories: Borders and Cultural Encounters from the Medieval to the Contemporary Era,” organized by Assist. Prof. Dr. Maria Pia Ester Cristaldi from Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, Department of Journalism, and Dr. Elisa Ramazzina from Insubria University, Italy, received intense interest by addressing the concept of 'border' from an interdisciplinary perspective. The seminars, shaped around language, communication, literature, politics, and culture; opened a discussion on how borders are constructed in academic production and how these borders can be transcended. In this context, Assist. Prof. Dr. Maria Pia Ester Cristaldi, emphasizing that academia should not be detached from society, highlighted that they value the seminars appealing not only to academic circles but also to society. Cristaldi also stated that the main goal of the seminars is to raise awareness about borders, underlining that borders are constructed by human practices.
Supported by Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication and the Master's Program in Media and Cultural Studies, the seminars “Entangled Histories: Borders and Cultural Encounters from the Medieval to the Contemporary Era” were held with the contributions of ILIMER-Human Oriented Communication Application and Research Center within the university and SDAIEP-Shandong Association for the International Exchange of Personnel.
The seminar series, bringing together academics from different continents, aimed to raise awareness about the concept of borders at both academic and societal levels.
In this context, Assist. Prof. Dr. Maria Pia Ester Cristaldi made evaluations about the seminars and her work.
“Borders are not real, they are built by our practices”
Explaining the starting point and main objective of the seminar series, Assist. Prof. Dr. Maria Pia Ester Cristaldi emphasized that this idea is a result of many years of academic work. Cristaldi expressed her approaches to the concept of borders with these words:
“Elisa and I have been close friends for about 13 years, and we are both academics. In both mine and Elisa's work, we generally research the similarities and differences between different societies. We proceed by comparing them. This is also why we chose the topic of ‘Borders’. Because borders are not only related to politics; they are also very closely related to language, communication, literature, and culture. In fact, I am trying to emphasize that borders are not a real thing, but something we construct with our social practices, with our communicative practices.”
“We need to investigate how borders emerge”
Cristaldi stated that current global developments have also brought border discussions back to the agenda, emphasizing that these issues should be evaluated with their historical background. Cristaldi said; “The war between Palestine and Israel or the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine are not one-day events. Their roots go back centuries. For example, why are some people identified as Ukrainian, and others as Russian? To understand these, we need to investigate how borders emerge.”
Main Goal: Awareness!
Cristaldi stated that the main goal of the seminars is to raise awareness about borders; “In fact, there is no real border between us. We are trying to show that borders are constructed over centuries from cultural, political, or religious perspectives. We also want to think together about how these borders can be transcended,” she said.
Academics from Different Continents Met in Üsküdar
Emphasizing that they attach special importance to the international structure of the seminar series, Cristaldi stated that they keep a distance from single-centered academic perspectives. Cristaldi said; “In such seminars, usually either only the Western perspective is reflected or only the Eastern. We tried to bring everyone together. There are academics from China, researchers from Japan, and participants from England and Canada,” she stated.
“We are overturning all categories”
Cristaldi stated that the topics covered also make one question borders mentally; “There are topics ranging from the translation of Christian texts in China to a researcher working on Japan in Canada, and Italian Shamanism. In fact, we are overturning all categories,” she said.
Language, Communication, and Press History were at the Center of the Studies
Cristaldi, stating that she gives special importance to the relationship between language and communication in her studies, drew attention to the connection language establishes with social memory. Cristaldi said; “The most important point of communication is having a common language. Language can be not only verbal but also non-verbal. The part that interests me most is the social and political aspect of language. How a language is used within a society, how it changes, the meanings and emotions attached to words are very important to me,” she said.
Language is a habit, a practice…
Cristaldi, also touching upon her work on language and press history, spoke about how languages cannot be thought of independently from each other. Cristaldi said; “A language can be changed by authority, but this is not an immediate thing. It takes time because it is the people who use the language. Language is a habit, a practice. It is very difficult to think of expressions and words we use in a language separately from a cultural accumulation. For example, how many people use the word ‘Inshallah’ in a religious sense? But we still continue to use it. Because it is now a part of the culture,” she stated.
“There is no nationalism in language”
In this context, Cristaldi, emphasizing that borders established through language are also artificial; “There is no nationalism in language. Because borders between people are artificial. If you share the same geography, words also become common,” she said.
Emphasis on Digital Humanities and Text Mining
Cristaldi stated that her studies on digital humanities and text mining offer new opportunities for classical press and communication research; “Newspapers published in the 18th and 19th centuries were the most important tools of modernization. We can comparatively examine the Ottoman, Russian, and Japanese press. Thanks to text mining, it is possible to research common concepts in these newspapers on a category basis,” she said.
“The interaction between human and machine is very important here”
Cristaldi stated that this process also necessitates interdisciplinary work; “I cannot do text mining alone. I was working with engineers. The interaction between human and machine is very important here,” drawing attention to the importance of cooperation with her words.
“Academia should not be detached from society”
Sharing her goals for the upcoming period, Cristaldi emphasized that they value the seminars appealing not only to academic circles but also to society. Cristaldi said; “I am not only thinking about academics. I am also thinking about students and society. The real benefit of academia emerges in its connection with society. These seminars are open to everyone, and this is a conscious choice. Academia should not be detached from society,” she said.
Series to continue until July 1!
The seminar series, which brings together academics from different continents, will continue to be held every Wednesday at 7:00 PM until July 1.