Memory, Language, and Informal Bookmaking among Armenian and Palestinian Populations and Women in Lebanon

1st session of the Seminar conducted within the research project: Paper Bonds. Bookmaking for Kin, Friends and the Self in Contemporary Europe and the Middle East  developped within the AV ČR-CNRS Tandem Program supported by the Czech Academy of Sciences, CNRS and CEFRES.

Date: April 1, 2026, 10:00
Location: CEFRES, Na Florenci 3, Prague 1 & online (please write to the address cefres@cefres.cz to get the link)
Language: English

Speaker: Ali Al-MOUSSAOUI (CEFRES / Charles University)
Discussant: Myriam CATUSSE (Institut de recherche sur le Maghreb contemporain / CNRS)

Abstract

This research investigates the intersections of informal bookmaking, collective memory, diaspora, and feminism praxis within displaced communities in Lebanon. The study focuses specifically on Palestinian and Armenian populations, with a primary emphasis on women’s contributions, to explore how non-traditional bookmaking practices serve as vital tools for identity expression and resistance against socio-cultural erasure. By unearthing the ways and linguistic nuances embedded in these informal materials, the project highlights how these communities record lived experiences and cascade knowledge and narratives.

The investigation is situated within the exceptional demographic and historical tapestry of Lebanon, a country known for its overlapping histories of displacement and sectarianism, which creates a unique environment for memory-making. Methodologically, the research employs a multi-method qualitative approach, synthesizing ethnographic fieldwork with textual, visual, and discourse analysis. This framework allows for a detailed and comprehensive look at informal publishing as a site of political and social agency.

This research is conducted within a broader project of CEFRES titled “Paper Bonds: Bookmaking for Kin, Friends and Self in Contemporary Europe and the Middle East.” It contributes to current scholarly debates via addressing the gap between formal archival history and the transient nature of diasporic production. Ultimately, this study views informal bookmaking as a radical strategy for survival, memory-making, and historical continuity.

Please find the complete program of the Paper Bonds seminar here.