Between the Lines: Battling Disinformation by Becoming Better Storytellers

The Literary and Cultural Studies Program and the student organization PLUME will host a talk titled “Between the Lines: Battling Disinformation by Becoming Better Storytellers” at Escaler Hall, Ateneo de Manila University, on 27 September 2024, from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM. 

It has been fifty-two years since the declaration of Martial Law, a period marked by corruption and grave human rights violations. While critical engagement with this era persists, the rise of historical revisionism and the erosion of rational discourse present significant challenges for both students and educators. Beyond distinguishing lies from the truth about the Martial Law period, the greater challenge for educators and scholars now is to use stories to convey the past more effectively. To achieve this, one must first engage deeply with literature.

By focusing on key questions about the intersection of historical understanding, literary analysis, and social consciousness, the session aims to explore how universities can challenge authoritarian narratives and contribute to societal transformation. More importantly, this session empowers students to see themselves as active participants in the reading and writing of narratives about Martial Law.

Key Questions:

• How can literature inspire and compel students to connect with historical events?

• In what ways can reading narratives be viewed as a political act, empowering students to make choices beyond those dictated by history?

• How can fiction, particularly Gregorio Brillantes’s “Apollo Centennial,” challenge and deconstruct the narratives of authoritarian regimes through figurative language and devices?

Featured Speakers

• Kaisa Aquino, author of Isabela, will discuss how reading fiction has shaped her as a writer and her generation's responsibility to engage with historical events like Martial Law.

• Jonathan Chua, editor of The Collected Stories of Gregorio C. Brillantes, will explore how “Apollo Centennial” uses figurative language to address themes of power and resistance.

• Larah Vinda del Mundo, co-author of Marcos Lies, will examine how Marcos maintained control, equipping students with tools to challenge propaganda narratives through research.

• AdMU student representatives will share their reflections on how their generation can use literature to process the inherited trauma from the Martial Law period.

Please confirm your attendance here: https://bit.ly/3z8JLvj

This event is free and open to the public. Non-Ateneo participants should register before going to the venue. 

LCSP and PLUME are also hosting the first Ateneo Literary Festival this coming 16-18 October 2024 at Ateneo de Manila University. For updates, please follow the official FB page of the program: https://www.facebook.com/AteneoLCSP

About the Literary and Cultural Studies Program

LCSP promotes the study of literature and contributes actively to knowledge production, with a focus on, but not limited to, Philippine literary and cultural traditions. A CHED Center of Excellence for Literature and ranked highly globally, the program offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in literary and cultural studies, namely, AB Literature (English) and MA LitCS.  

About PLUME

Plume is the premier literary organization of the Higher Education Cluster. It is also the home organization of literature majors and minors as well as the community for passionate readers on campus. More details here: https://www.facebook.com/PLUMEBookClub