Late additions
Asynchronous Session
Non-Binary Language in Spanish Classrooms: Spanish Grammar Textbook with Non-binary Pronouns View Digital Media
Innovation Showcase Liana Stepanyan, Goretti Prieto Botana, Carolina Castillo Larrea, María Mercedes Fages Agudo
This proposal focuses on the creation of the first Spanish grammar textbook that includes non-binary language, an initiative that stems from the ongoing international discourse on diversity and non-binary identity, and the adoption of non-binary language on the campuses of the universities in the US and other countries. This presentation discusses the use of the non-binary language on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC), and the efforts of the faculty of the department of Latin American and Iberian Cultures to integrate non-binary language in Spanish language instruction. It also considers the findings of the polls conducted among Spanish learners at USC that lead to the creation of this first Spanish grammar textbook that includes non-binary language, as well as the success and the challenges resulting from faculty’s efforts to foster diversity, equity and inclusion.
Approaching the Social through Museum Theatre - the Peiraeus 391BC Case Study: "A Day at Xanthippi’s” View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Foteini Venieri
Museum theatre is a specific kind of interpretation that employs fictional activity to communicate ideas, facts, and concepts, according to a museums’ mission and interpretation strategy. The museum theatre play “Piraeus 391 B.C.: A Day at Xanthippi’s” - performed in 2017 at the archaeological space of the ancient city gates of Piraeus - chose to focus on an era that is highly charged, both emotionally and ideologically. The play’s primary aim was to interpret the water supply network of the ancient city that was unearthed during the construction of the Athens Metro network. In order to contextualize the findings and make them relatable to present day life, the play shed some light on everyday life in Pireaus in 391 B.C., from the perspective of Xanthippi: a female ‘metic’ and tavern owner. Essentially an imaginary character, who didn’t exist, but who could have existed, Xanthippi interacts with the audience; themselves taking on the role of Athenians who have travelled to Piraeus for a sacred festival and who have stopped along the way for a rest at Xanthippi’s tavern. This paper outlines the theoretical and methodological tools that were applied, in the case of this lively encounter at Xanthippi’s tavern, in order to encourage dialogue where historical data serves as a means to examine present-day social issues.
