Raleigh Literary Society Organises Pre-Conference Lecture Series

Aligarh: The Raleigh Literary Society, Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University, under the aegis of the International Conference on Post-Truth(s): Representations in Contemporary Literature and Cinema, organised a series of Pre-Conference lectures, spanning three days, unfolding as a profound exploration into the complexities of post-truth.

The series featured talks by Prof Mirza Asmer Beg, Prof. Mohammad Sajjad, Prof. Aysha Munira Rasheed, and a compelling valedictory address by Professor SN Zeba.

The series commenced with a lecture by Professor Mirza Asmer Beg, Dean, Faculty of Social Science, entitled “Making Sense of Post-Truth,” providing a historical context for post-truth, tracing its roots to the post-World War II era.

Prof Beg delved into the shift from overt imperialism to a nuanced approach centred on obtaining consent. “Imperialism and colonialism […] went out of style,” he said, “but the need to maintain dominance and control over the masses persisted; today, consent is obtained rather than coercion.” This evolution, he argued, laid the groundwork for the emergence of post-truth. The intricate link between knowledge and consent in contemporary global politics was emphasized, setting the stage for a deeper understanding of post-truth’s significance.

Exploring the impact of social media, Professor Beg highlighted its role in misinformation proliferation and the blurring of lines between facts and opinions. He argued that post-truth challenges the traditional reliance on truth and facts in shaping public discourse. The lecture concluded with an examination of Trump’s election, showcasing how the erosion of the concept of “truth” led to a dominance of subjective feelings over objective facts.

The second day featured a thought-provoking lecture by Professor Mohammad Sajjad from the Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University. His talk, titled “A Preliminary Attempt towards Understanding Post-Truth” spanned various dimensions, tracing the evolution of post-truth, its impact on society, and its intersection with historical, political, and cultural contexts.

Professor Sajjad explored the origins of the concept, noting its roots in philosophies emphasizing the illusory nature of everything. The lecture addressed the distinction between post-truth and rumor, emphasizing the acute instability inflicted by capitalism, as described by Frances Fukuyama.

“We as free people have freely decided that we want to live in a post-truth world,” he noted, adding that “[…] somewhere objective truth does exist because if it does not exist we would not be speaking the truth at all.”

On the third and last day, Professor Aysha Munira Rasheed delivered a lecture on ‘Posting Truth in the Times of Post-Truth.’ She delved into the contemporary phenomenon of post-truth, providing a nuanced exploration of its implications on public opinion.

Beginning with a definition of post-truth as a circumstance where objective facts wield diminished influence over public opinion, Professor Rasheed highlighted the increasing role of emotions, leading to a trend of pandering to emotions for mass control. Drawing from Nietzsche’s philosophy, she illuminated the subject in light of the will to power and the nature of knowledge production. “In the human world, we produce knowledge which is very anthropocentric,” she said.

She emphasized the interconnectedness of post-truth and post-modernism, linking the multiplicity of truths to the realm of advertisements and challenging the notion of a single, objective truth. Referencing Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Rashomon,’ Professor Rasheed also illustrated the post-modern Rashomon effect, where multiple narrators present different versions of a story.

The lecture concluded with a reflection on the impact of post-truth phenomena on global public opinion, discussing the role of fact-checkers and the challenges of media trials. Professor Rasheed also emphasized the potential for marginalized voices to reshape narratives through affirmative sabotage. “People sitting on the margins also get to have their say,” she noted, “and make their version of truth known to the world. We have ‘truths.’”

The Pre-Conference Lecture Series concluded with insightful Valedictory remarks by Professor SN Zeba, former Chairperson, Department of English.

Professor Zeba delved into the pervasive influence of post-truth politics, emphasizing that public debates are crafted for emotional resonance rather than rational discourse. “Most observers in the English-speaking world agree that post-truth is the burial of objective facts by the avalanche of media,” she noted.

She underscored the role of populist leaders as ‘merchants of post-truth,’ employing this phenomenon as a potent tool for manipulation. Instances such as Trump’s election victory, achieved through the dissemination of total falsehoods, were presented as stark illustrations of the impact of post-truth on political landscapes.

In the face of these challenges, Professor Zeba stressed the importance of education as the primary tool to counter post-truth. Encouraging the audience to be sceptical about information presented to them, she noted that democracy relies on citizens capable of distinguishing between truth and post-truth.

The valedictory address also touched upon the role of literary criticism in an era characterized by propaganda, fake news, lies, and post-truth. Professor Zeba argued that meaning and truth can be discerned through literary analysis, and teachers, as interpreters, play a crucial role in guiding individuals through the complex narratives of our cultural and political discourse.

Professor SN Zeba called upon the audience to carry forward the torch of knowledge and critical thinking.

The lecture series provided a platform for engaging with pressing intellectual issues and set the tone for the upcoming conference.