When Literature Protests: Exploring Ideas at Epiphany 9.0
Literature
has served as a medium of protest for centuries. Writers who experience social
injustice or recognise the need for social change use their work to critique
systems of power, express dissent, and envision a more just society. Exploring
this relationship between creative expression and social criticism, Epiphany
9.0, an annual state-level seminar cum research paper presentation
competition for undergraduate students, organised by the Department of English
at DMC College, Assagao, centred on the theme “Protest in Literature and
Popular Culture: A Teen Perspective.”
The
competition provided a platform for students to explore how protest finds
expression across literary works and popular culture, encouraging them to
engage with diverse perspectives and critically examine contemporary social
realities. With approximately 19 participants presenting their research papers,
the event fostered an exchange of ideas and interpretations, highlighting the
continued relevance of literature as a means of questioning established norms
and addressing social concerns.
Representing
the college, Ann Esperanca Fernandes, a TYBA English student, presented her
research paper titled “Performing Perfection: Examining Protest in Caro
Claire Burke’s Yesteryear.” Drawing on Erving Goffman’s theory of
dramaturgy, her paper examined how satire can function as a form of protest,
particularly through its critique of the idealised representations of tradwife
culture and the performance of perfection in contemporary digital spaces.
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