THE PERILS OF TRANSLATION
Creating a Romanian presence inside the community of
English speaking popular cultures

a talk by Mike Phillips and Ramona Mitrica

In the English speaking world the opportunities for encountering Romanian culture (apart from Cheeky Girls and gypsy music) tend to be restricted to the higher strata of the arts, Ionescu, Brancusi, Eliade, Cioran etc.

In recent years, however, especially since the EU accession, it has become apparent that an authentic representation of Romanian identity to the rest of the world should and must include knowledge of more popular forms, for example the sort of popular fiction which is widely read and appreciated.

But transposing popular formats to international markets is no easy matter, and Romanian unfamiliarity with how to manage the transition has, in the past, compounded the problems. The point being that simple translation of words is not enough to communicate the effect of popular culture messages, which arguably present the clearest and most coherent route to understanding Romanian culture. A new understanding of pathways between the cultures of everyday life is essential.

The consultancy Profusion International Creative Consultancy has so far conducted a number of successful liaisons with cultural forms in the UK . This includes translating critical and academic work by such writers as George Banu.

Profusion International Creative Consultancy has now undertaken the publication of Romanian and other forms of popular fiction from Eastern Europe in the English speaking and European markets. The first tranche of work, in the autumn of 2011, will be a list of crime fiction, including authors George Arion, Oana Stoica-Mujea and Bogdan Hrib.

Profusion International Creative Consultancy directors Mike Phillips and Ramona Mitrica will describe the problems of transposing popular moods and methods into the market for popular cultures in the English speaking world, and address solutions to bridging the gaps of understanding and appreciation.

Date: Monday 30 May 2011
Hour: 14.00
Place: Habitus Cultural Centre (Catholic Church – entrance from the Small Square )
Organised by: Sibiu International Theatre Festival (www.sibfest.ro ; 27 May – 5 June 2011, 18th edition – COMMUNITIES)
Supported by: Profusion International Creative Consultancy (www.profusion.org.uk) and the
Ratiu Foundation (www.ratiufamilyfoundation.com; www.romanianculturalcentre.org.uk)