The Other Side of the Moon: Constructing an Anthology of Greek Outsider Writing

Event Details

This talk surveys the authors and writings from an anthology in progress titled “The Other Side of the Moon: Greek Outsider Writing (1840-present).” Featuring the gallomanic “Poetic Tracts” of Yorgios Exarchopolous, the proto-surrealist prose of Michaïl Mitsakis, the epigrams of Lesbos-born eccentric Armandos Dellapatridis and the writings of the insane collected by Kostas Varnalis—this anthology positions itself as an alternative history of Modern Greek literature; one that extends as far back as the early decades of the Greek nation-state.

Edited by Michael Alexandratos, this anthology collects writings from the mad, eccentric or otherwise marginalised individuals who operated on the fringes of dominant literary movements. The emerging category of “Outsider Writing”—the literary equivalent of Roger Cardinal’s 1972 formulation of “Outsider Art”— is used to conceptualise these authors and their idiosyncratic poetics.

Although the definitions and scope of this term are still being debated, it provides a useful framework for which to understand these writers and their place in Modern Greek literature. This talk will argue that instead of ghettoising these writers, the use of the term “Outsider Writing” offers readers a way to appreciate and recognise voices in Greek literary history that have existed outside the realms of the normal.

About Michael Alexandratos

Michael Alexandratos (b. 1997) is a writer, researcher and publisher based in Sydney, Australia. He runs the small imprint Cycladic Press, which is dedicated to publishing books on Modern Greek literature and culture, as well as the blog and record label Amnesiac Archive, which focuses on unexplored areas in music and recorded sound. He is currently working on an anthology of Greek outsider writing.

How to Participate

This is an in-person event only, so please join us at the Greek Centre, on the Mezzanine Level (Press M in the elevator).

See our speaker live, ask questions during the Q&A and hobnob with fellow participants before and after the event.

We look forward to seeing you there.