Bookmaking for Kin, Friends and the Self in Contemporary Europe and the Middle East

Kick-off meeting of a research project developed within  AV ČR-CNRS Tandem Program supported by the Czech Academy of Sciences, CNRS and CEFRES.

Date: February 19, 2026, 10h15-12h45
Location: CEFRES, Na Florenci 3, Prague 1
Language: English

Principal researchers of the project:
Hélène Martinelli (ENS Lyon / CEFRES)
Giedrė Šabasevičiūtė (Oriental Institute, AV ČR / CEFRES)
Associated Researcher:
Ali Al-Moussaoui (CEFRES / Charles University)

With a keynote by Alessandro LUDOVICO (University of Southampton)
Tactical Publishing, Using Senses, Software, and Archives in the Twenty-First Century

The project explores self-made books and private bookmaking practices in contemporary Europe and the Middle East, focusing on their material, symbolic and social dimensions. Adopting a genealogical perspective, it examines how non-commercial publishing and book production shape relationships, express identity and responds to political and technological change. Drawing from the disciplines of anthropology, book history and sociology of literature, the project aims to reappraise the social significance of the print book in the era of digital publishing.

Since 2018, the TANDEM program endeavors excellency in social sciences and humanities by bringing together Czech and French colleagues to intensify scientific collaboration between our countries in the frame of European Research Area. The program is a joint initiative of CEFRES, CNRS SHS, CU & the Czech Academy of Sciences (AV ČR) in the frame of the CEFRES Platform of scientific collaborations. Its former members have obtained two ERC grants, including the BOAR project.