Brandon University's Dr. Eftihia Mihelakis, Associate Professor in the Department of Francophone Studies and Languages, has guest edited the latest issue of MuseMedusa: revue de littérature et d'arts modernes, an international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to literature and the arts. Her leadership in the writing and editorial process of the special issue titled Black Sun: Creative and Destructive Helios [Soleil noir: créations et saccages d'Hélios], brings together researchers, writers, and artists who examine and imagine the literary ramifications of the Ancient Greek god Helios.
"This special issue is part of my research-creation program What lies beneath the dust. From Ancient Greek texts to today, the figure of the Sun has always been a strange figure. The Sun can be somber, symbolizing melancholia, depression, destruction, or even the unconscious. The Sun also represents bounty, goodness, intelligence. But in the last couple of decades, it is appearing in novel iterations," writes Dr. Mihelakis.
"In an age of hyperrealism and hyper vigilance propagated by social media and global surveillance, there is this shared belief that everything can be observed at any moment, underpinning a regime of transparency of individuals not only in their identification with the authority of the law, but also in the demand for clarity with(in) oneself. This is therefore groundbreaking work because it forces us to reassess aspects of our lives that are so deeply entrenched with who we believe to be."
"My research-creation asks: Can we truly control or express every aspect of our identity with absolute transparency and authenticity? Do we express who we are or who we want others to think we are? What role do fictional narratives of the self play in an age of hyperrealism? What we witness in this issue is a strange reversal of this tendency to only attach meaning and legitimacy to the real self and the Sun is the perfect metaphor of this ambivalent relationship to our perceived identity," said Dr. Mihelakis.
Dr. Gregory Kennedy, Dean of Arts at Brandon University, sees this as the latest example of humanities research contributing directly to contemporary social issues through thematic and focused interdisciplinary work. "Dr. Mihelakis brings her editorial leadership and research skills to deliver a special issue that reminds us that myth and literature are living frameworks that extend deep into our collective memory of the past to reflect on our modern-day lives," said Dr. Kennedy. "This is also an example of the international impact of our dynamic team of Francophone researchers right here at BU."
This research was supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant in Research-Creation, valued at $27,854. This funding enabled Dr. Mihelakis to collaborate with national and international peers and graduate students, and bring meaningful perspectives to the study of literature.
"Projects like this highlight the importance of research funding in giving our faculty the time and resources they need to pursue ambitious questions," said Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies at Brandon University. "We are proud to support Dr. Mihelakis as she shares her expertise on a global stage."
The full issue of MuseMedusa: revue de littérature et d'arts modernes, including Dr. Mihelakis' introduction to the special issue, is available online at: https://musemedusa.com/dossier-13
