Taking GLF beyond literature
When most people think of literature, they think of books, poems and plays. However, the new festival team behind the Fairway Galle Literary Festival feel that the term encompasses much more than these traditional components. Festival Curator Jill Macdonald explains that literature is more about ideas than the written word. “Let’s not forget that Bob Dylan, the great singer/ songwriter won the Nobel Prize for literature last year, so I don’t think it’s just a point of consideration; it absolutely is the case that literature includes song and other such forms. Literature is an expression of humankind’s creativity, probably particularly through words but not exclusively,” she states. This belief in the inclusivity of different forms of literature and the need for its meaning to evolve is one of the main points which guides the team as they prepare for the Fairway Galle Literary Festival 2018.
Having read for a Master of Philosophy in English Literature from Oxford and worked as the Principal of the British School in Colombo for 11 years, Jill Macdonald is no stranger to the field of English Literature or to Sri Lanka. Having attended each Galle Literary Festival since its inception, she accepted a request to join the team as Curator because she feels that the event is an enriching experience. “We find a safe place to discuss things. We might not like arguing with one another about something but we don’t mind arguing on the book about it,” she says, adding that the room for passionate discussion is also important. “Healthy disagreement is necessary. I think it’s great that you can have a disagreement with someone in a panel and then go and have dinner with them,” says Jill.
She also feels that literature helps people understand the world. “There’s absolutely nothing new under the sun. We think that things that are difficult for us have never happened before, but then you discover books with that exact same situation,” she says adding that literary festivals are also important because they elevate reading from a private event to one which is public.
2018 will also see a new Festival Director in Janitha Dias Bandaranayake. Having worked in many fields, including advertising, international relations and teaching, she felt that joining the team would be an exciting experience. “I thought it would be interesting and felt I would not get this opportunity again,” explains Janitha. Janitha has worked as head of Primary at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and brings with her 15 years of experience as a teacher.
Ashwini Shanmugaretnam’s background of event co-ordination and management is something she feels will help her as she joins the team as Festival Manager. “I’ve taken part and worked at many things and realized that events is my passion and to take part in an event this scale is very interesting and also a challenge,” she says. Ashwini holds a degree in mathematics and finance and feels that her diverse background will help her in this project.
“We have to give credit to the previous team because they have actually set the bar for us,” says Ashwini, adding that the team is lucky that they work well together. “We do basically the same things but every year you need to grow and introduce new things,” adds Janitha.
The team has exciting plans for the festival. There will be a strong emphasis on diversity, as well as a series of discussions on current topics, including many aspects of literature. In fact, this time they will even have a surgeon as a speaker. “Literature is the discussion of contemporary events as much as imaginary events. There’s another reason why we’re bringing him down which has a very direct link to literature which will become clear when his name is announced,” explains Jill. There will also be more embassies participating. “We’re interested in writing in English, not English writing. If a Martian arrives tomorrow and wants to write to us in English or wants to get it translated from Martian into English, he or she or it can also come. The point is that English is the medium that we’re using but we’re interested in literature that comes from anyone anywhere, comments Jill.
A children’s ticketed programme on two days, an art trail, movie screenings, archiect-led excursions in Galle Fort and a tour conducted by a long-time resident of Galle (Mrs. Cader) are on the programme. Although some might feel that movies have nothing to do with literature, Jill begs to differ. Pointing out that a movie always has a script; she explains that a movie is simply a modern version of a play. “It’s what Shakespeare would have done now. I would bet a lot of money that if Shakespeare was alive today he would have been making blockbuster films,” she comments.
The festival is about more than just literature, she reiterates. “It’s more of an arts festival with a big focus on literature,” – literature goes hand in hand with music and art, she adds.
Another noteworthy feature will be the outreach programmes, something which Janitha has taken a particular interest in. “We have children’s outreach programmes with children of four less privileged schools in Galle and children of the Music Project from Jaffna and Kurunegala will be joining them,” she says, adding that other programmes such as the North-South university programme (where selected university students attend free), the teacher training programme (where authors will work with teachers from the Amarasuriya Training Centre in Galle) etc. will also take place. These events are open to the public and will take place in the Jaffna edition of the Galle Literary Festival as well.
“What everyone needs to see is that the festival also happens to give back to Sri Lanka which is what founder Geoffrey Dobbs had in mind when he started the festival,” explains Ashwini. Jill feels that festival takes Sri Lanka to the world, particularly because writers are excited to come to Sri Lanka to learn about Sri Lanka, but also to take part in the events. “Sri Lanka’s contribution to the arts is much larger than one might expect given the relatively small size of the island,” she remarks. “This is no way a commercial festival, it’s a cultural festival,” she adds, explaining that the ticket prices only cover the cost of the event.
A common complaint among many people is that people do not read anymore. “I don’t agree that there is a phenomenon where people are getting less interested in reading, I think it’s the reverse, I think people are becoming more absorbed with words,” says Jill, adding that people of today might have to restructure their relationship to words. During Jane Austen’s time, people would send a written message updating family and friends on their activities even if they were only going somewhere nearby and we are going back to a similar thing with the culture of texting, twitter and instagram etc, explains Jill adding that they are contemporary manifestations of old ways.
The Fairway Galle Literary Festival will be held from January 24-28, 2018. The speakers attending the event will be revealed on October 11. For further information, see their website at https://galleliteraryfestival.com/.