Thursday April 6th marked a big day for my fellow masters English Students and me – our own household, self-organised Mini-Conference.
I had given myself extra duty by volunteering for work on the design committee and to chair a panel along with my research presentation. This choice was rewarding. The panel I had the honour of chairing considered Gender Roles and Expectation in media ranging from Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde to the work of Haruki Murakami. Following the general high standard of the conference content, the speakers delivered fascinating and entertaining presentations. Despite a challenge in the form of an online speaker, the panel went smoothly. The Question-and-Answer section was especially enjoyable. It revealed different perspectives on the topics through discussion and challenged me to pay close attention and formulate questions when the audience lulled. I would venture to call this my personal highlight, were it not for the consistent quality of papers and discussions throughout the day.
I anticipated my own paper with some nervosity, as I delivered the last presentation of the day. However, that position did not unsettle me too much. Confidence in my material and my previous foray into conference presentations proved useful in this case. The specific format of the presentation, a Pecha Kucha, initially was a source of dread and frustration. It required tricky timing and rhythm. Yet in the days leading up to the conference, it started to click. The format persuaded me of its benefits, its dance in between memorising a structure while improvising specific phrasings.
As a result, I was satisfied with the final presentation performance, despite a brief attack of nervosity towards its middle. The process transported me out of my comfort zone. It also helped me to refine my thesis research. The question-and-answer section again provided a lot of enjoyment. Even though I am not personally satisfied with all the answers I gave, my excellent fellow speakers provided wonderful discussion.
Ultimately, my personal performance only constitutes a part of what made the Textualities Conference rewarding for me. There was a community in sharing in my fellow students’ research, hearing them speak about what they are passionate. The conference’s communal nature and light-hearted atmosphere revealed the warmest side of research.
