News & Events

Here you can find the News & Events of the GS PoL of the past years

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© William Watkin

Guest lecture: Multiplicities of Silence with Prof. William Watkin (Brunel University)

11 January 2023 | 6-8PM | Lecture Hall JO1 (Johannisstr. 4)

Sigetics is the name for the philosophy of silence. It is concerned with what philosophers cannot say or name. As such it constitutes the outside of philosophy that thinkers need to make their various systems consistent. In his brief history of sigetics, Prof. Watkin visits the quiet cells and still offices of many thinkers and asks if their multiplicities of silences might be less a limit to philosophy, than a mute indication of its future.

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© Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

Public Lecture: Introduction to Public Writing with Irina Dumitrescu

17 November 2022 | 4-6PM | S1 (Schloss)

Scholars who write for a general audience need to familiarize themselves with new genres, writing styles, and outlets that are very different from academic publishing. Our guest lecturer Prof. Dr. Irina Dumitrescu (University of Bonn) will give us a first-hand inside into public writing, scrutinize its pros and cons, and share practical tips for newcomers in the field.

© kul-ja! publishing

GSPoL Alumnus Publishes His Debut Novel

Congratulations to Dr. Boris Hoge-Benteler on publishing his first novel Sonnenstadt (2022) with kul-ja! publishing! Sonnenstadt deals with trauma and fear, the loss of relationships and disorientation as well as the search for beauty and plays with elements of the coming-of-age novel, the road novel and the thriller genre.

© Pixabay

Network Conference 2022

23 May 2022

At this year's network conference, the GSPoL offers exciting insights into current dissertation projects and career paths for academics with a PhD in literature. Alumni, students, university lecturers and the interested (university) public are cordially invited to attend this event. Further information on the program and registration can be found here.

Lecture Series "Activism & Academia"Lecture Series "" Activism & Academia"
© GSPoL/Rod Long, Unsplash

Lecture Series "Activism & Academia"

Monday 6-8PM, starting on May 9, 2022

This summer term, the GSPoL hosts a lecture series which focuses on "Activism & Academia." We invite all students, staff and guests to join us and participate in discussions on this important and timely topic. The program and further information are available on the website of the event. Please note that the lecture on May 2 has been rescheduled to June 13.

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© GSPoL

Exhibit 'Eden? Plants between Science and Fiction'

The preparation of the exhibit 'Eden? Plants between Science and Fiction,' which will be on display from May 15 to 29, 2022, is in full swing. Information on the current status and progress of the project is available on the homepage of the exhibit as well as on Instagram and Twitter.

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© Michael Aaron Mason

Summer School 2022 Tacet Ad Libitum! The Poetics and Politics of Silence

The Summer School will open with the Münster Lectures which seek to combine the merits of theoretical and literary insight of renowned scholars, prominent writers, and cultural activists to discuss current debates, both scholastic and social.
The Münster Lectures are open to doctoral candidates, post-doc researchers, humanities students, and the general public. The Münster Lectures aim to strengthen not only the interdisciplinary exchange among members of the university, but also bridges the gap between the university and the city of Münster.

On July 27, the participants of the summer school will be asked to present their work-in progress on the topic. The conferences will be divided in three panels: theory, poetics and politics, which will be moderated by two speakers each.
The call for abstracts is now closed. We are not accepting any paper presentations.
We welcome you to register as a regular participant. (Spaces are limited)

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Information Event

29 October 2021 | 10am (sharp) | Zoom

Students of literature who are interested in doing a PhD are cordially invited to take part in our digital information event. External guests are also welcome.

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© GSPoL

Digital Networking Event 2021

June 25, 2021 | 10.30 am

At this year's network conference, the GSPoL offers exciting insights into current dissertation projects and career paths for academics with a PhD in literature. Alumni, students, university lecturers and the interested (university) public are cordially invited to attend this event. Further information on the program and registration can be found here.

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© GSPoL

The Role of Media in Making Lives Matter

Evening Lecture | Dr. Anna Poletti | Feb. 8, 2021 | 8pm (sharp)

The GSPoL's final event of this winter term is an evening lecture with Dr. Anna Poletti (Utrecht University). Building on their research on life writing after the book, Dr. Poletti will outline how affordances and aesthetics of other media forms reshape and reinvent autobiographical narratives. Please register with this link if you are interested in joining the event on Zoom. The lecture will be held in English.

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© Stockfotos-MG / Fotolia

CfP - Vögel aus Federn: Verschriftlichungen des Vogels seit 1800 (Deadline: January 29, 2021)

May 7-8, 2021 | WWU Münster | Organized by members of the GSPoL and FB 09 Philology (German only)

Paper proposals for the conference Vögel aus Federn: Verschriftlichungen des Vogels seit 1800 can be submitted until January 29, 2021 (German only).  The event is organized by GSPoL members Manuel Förderer and Cristine Huck as well as Laura Reiling (German Department/FB 09 Philology, WWU Münster).

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© GSPoL

At the Abyss - Today and Tomorrow

Lecture | Prof. Dr. em. Jean-Luc Nancy | January 13, 2021 | 18 h

We are looking forward to welcoming the renowned thinker Prof. Dr. em. Jean-Luc Nancy at the GSPoL. Prof. Nancy will teach a PhD workshop and give a public lecture, which focuses on the abyss and its non-negative potentiality - keeping in mind that the death of god, the end of the law of causation have left us with no metaphysical "Grund" (German for "reason" as well as "ground"). Please contact us via email if you are interested in joining the event via Zoom.

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© Privat

Lecture Performance: Artistic Research (KV Leipzig)

Martina Kigle & Agnes Meyer-Brandis, 14. August 2020

We are happy to announce that the Kunstverein Leipzig invited our member and doctoral candidate Martina Kigle to present her dissertation project and to discuss "artistic research" with the Berlin artist Agnes Meyer-Brandis.

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© gspol

Benjamin and Derrida: Some Reflections on a Problematic Relation

Guest Lecture by Peter Fenves, June 25, 2020, 18:00 Uhr (c.t.)

We look forward to welcoming Prof. Peter Fenves, who will give a webinar and a guest lecture on "Benjamin and Derrida" at our graduate school. Please contact us by email if you are interested in joining the event via Zoom.

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Writing Retreat

In May 2019 and January 2020, doctoral students of the GSPoL organized a writing retreat. As a joint retreat into nature, the event was intended to promote concentrated writing and intensify the research and personal exchange among participants in different semesters and stages of their PhD research and from different disciplinary and national backgrounds.

Photo from the writing retreatPhoto from the writing retreat
© Privat

Writing Retreat

In May 2019 and January 2020, doctoral students of the GSPoL organized a writing retreat. As a joint retreat into nature, the event was intended to promote concentrated writing and intensify the research and personal exchange among participants in different semesters and stages of their PhD research and from different disciplinary and national backgrounds.

Workshop in FrankfurtPicture of Workshop
© Privat

Workshop in Frankfurt

20th of November 2019

On November 20th 2019 the members of the GSPoL went on a field trip to Frankfurt to exchange views on career prospects for graduates of the literary studies with experts for (mediating) literature. The two-day event was initiated and planned with the help of our advisory committee member Dr. Sonja Vandenrath.

Poster of the lecture series "Travelling Concepts"Poster of the lecture series "Travelling Concepts"
© GSPoL

Lecture series "Travelling Concepts"

Mondays 6-8 pm, JO 101, from Oct 07 onwards

In the upcoming winter term, GSPoL once again hosts a lecture series, starting on Oct 07. On Mondays, 6-8 pm, members are invited to attend to this series on "Travelling Concepts". Further information can be found on our website by clicking on this announcement's title.

Reading Group Theory of Literature

To Resume in the Upcoming Winter Term

For the upcoming winter semester, some of our GSPoL graduate students again offer project groups, one of which is "Lesegruppe Literaturtheorie" (Reading Group Theory of Literature). All those interested (especially bachelor students) are cordially invited to attend!

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© GSPoL

"Media and Ideology in the Modern Constitution"

Guest lecture by Dr. Samuel Heidepriem on July 11

GSPoL cordially invites yout to Dr. Samuel Heidepriem's guest lecture on "Media and Ideology of the Modern Constitution", which will be held at JO 101 on July, 11 at 4 pm.

Poster Cooperation Northwestern UniversityPoster Cooperation Northwestern University
© GSPoL, Biblioteca de la Universidad de Sevilla

Ceremony on the occasion of the new cooperation between WWU and Northwestern University

Wednesday June 19, 2019 | 18h | Festsaal (Ceremonial Hall)

On the occasion of our new cooperation with Northwestern University, we would like to cordially invite you to our ceremony on June 19, 2019 at Festsaal (Ceremonial Hall) at 6 pm. Prof. Dr. Jörg Kreienbrock from Northwestern University will open this ceremony by giving a lecture on "Institut für Verbesserung der Weltliteratur. Max Kommerell und Ernst Robert Curtius im Gespräch über Calderón".

© GSPoL

Considering a PhD in Literary Studies?

Monday, June 24, 2019 | 16h | BB 301

The GS PoL is pleased to announce a short workshop, offering a briefing for students considering a PhD in literary studies at the WWU. The event will provide information on where and how to begin your application and planning for a dissertation and gives an introduction on the work of the Graduate School 'Practices of Literature'.

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© Graduate School Practices of Literature

"A World of Translation"

Lecture by Theo D'haen on 6 June

The guest lecture "A World of Translation" by Theo D'haen (KU Leuven) will be held in WWU castle's ceremonial on 6 June at 6 pm. All those interested are cordially invited to attend! (venue: Festsaal, Schlossplatz 5)

#Textpraxis Issue 16 has been released!#Textpraxis Issue 16 has been released!
© Textpraxis

Textpraxis #16 published!

Textpraxis. Digitales Journal for Philology. The Open Access publication of the GSPoL & the WWU's philologies

The sixteenth issue of Textpraxis. Digital Journal for Philology was released on May 1st. In this issue, Christina Glinik and Elmar Lenhart (Klagenfurt) analyze different writing scenes in Josef Winkler's Domra. Sandra Folie (Vienna) investigates the role of intersectionality in new world literature and Stefan Tomasek (Würzburg) discusses the representation of Nibelungenlied in museums.

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© B. Fritsch

Why Literary Studies Matter Now: Academic Practices in an Anti-Intellectual Climate

Lecture Series 2018/19 | Mondays | starting October 15, 2018 | 6pm | Lecture Hall S 9 (Schloss)

This year's lecture series, titled Why Literary Studies Matter Now: Academic Practices in an Anti-Intellectual Climate, opens up an interdisciplinary and international dialogue on the cultural and political role of literature in today's world, addressing issues such as "Realitie(s) in Literary Studies," "Factual Fictions," and "Political Correctness in Academic Discourse."

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© WWU
© GSPoL

PhD Scholarship: Call for Applications for International Students

Application deadline: May 31, 2019

In cooperation with the DAAD, the Department of Philology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-University in Münster is offering a scholarship for interested and qualified international doctoral candidates in the area of literary studies starting October 1, 2019.

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Undocumented Migrants in the United States: Life Narratives and Self-representations

Publication | Dr Ina Batzke

Die GSPoL congratulates alumna Dr. Ina Batzke on her publication of her dissertation with Routledge.
By reading the self-representations of undocumented migrants in a range of life narratives published from 2001 to 2016 as both a product of America's changing views on citizenship and membership, and an arena where such views can potentially be challenged, the book interrogates the role such self-representations have played not only in constructing undocumented migrant identities, but also in shaping social borders.

Picture of the publication "Critical Branding"Picture of the publication "Critical Branding"
© Routledge

Critical Branding: Postcolonial Studies and the Market

Publication | Dr Caroline Kögler

The GSPoL congratulates alumna Dr. Caroline Kögler on the publication of her dissertation with Routledge.
Critical Branding: Postcolonial Studies and the Market provides an original answer to what Sarah Brouillette has called postcolonial studies’ ‘longstanding materialist challenge’, illuminating the relationship between what is often broadly called ‘the market’ and the practice and positionality of postcolonial critics and their field, postcolonial studies. Find more information here:

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© Riesenweber

Open-Access Workshop with GSPoL Alumna Christina Riesenweber

Publishing in open access || Publishing Options at the WWU Münster

GSPoL Alumna Christina Riesenweber (Open Access consultant FU Berlin, Open-Access-Office Berlin) and ULB representative Elisabeth Sawatzky (Publication Service / Service Point Digitale Dienste) gave an overview of open access options for academics in a GSPoL workshop in June 2018. Find the workshop's summary and further information on publishing services at the University of Münster here:

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© Zimmermann

Anniversary Conference - 10 years of GSPoL

Recap and Impressions

The tenth anniversary of the Graduate School 'Practices of Literature' was celebrated on June 19, 2018 with a conference. A diverse program including a networking event “Career Development” for PhD students, a guest lecture by advisory board member Dr. Nicholas Shrimpton (University of Oxford), as well as poster and project presentations by PhD students reflected the Graduate School's research activities. The GSPoL is grateful to everyone who participated and made the anniversary conference a special day with thoughtprovoking discussions!

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Anniversary Conference - GS PoL Turns 10!

June 19, 2018 | Starting at 10 a.m.| Aula at Vom-Stein-Haus (Schlossplatz 34)

To the celebrate the Graduate School's ten-year anniversary, the graduate school has come up with a diverse conference program illustrating the GS PoL's three pillars: literature and theory, literature and society as well as literature and the professional world. Next to PhD poster presentations, it includes academic exchange in the form of a keynote lecture by Dr. Nicholas Shrimpton (University of Oxford) as well as a networking event for PhD students, advisory board members, and alumni.

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CANCELLED - On the forms of self-presentation of authors in digital contexts

Evening Lecture| PD Dr. Christoph Jürgensen (Wuppertal)| June 5, 2018 | 18:15 | VSH 17 (Schlossplatz 34)

***Unfortunately, the event had to be cancelled. The lecture will be held on a later date (tba). ***
The GSPoL gives a warm welcome to University of Wuppertal's PD Dr Christoph Jürgensen: On June 5, 2018, he will be giving a guest lecture on forms of self-presentation of authors in digital contexts ("Digital ist besser? Formen der Autorinszenierung im Internet"), 18:15 at Vom-Stein-Haus (Schlossplatz 34), room 17. Everyone interested is welcome to join the talk and discussion.

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© Franzi Kreis

Science Communication Today: More Content, More Colour - More Importance?

Lecture/Discussion | 7.5.2018 | 18:15 | Aula im Schloss

What shape can science communication take on today next to a traditional press release, a lecture series or a tweet introducing a new publication? Science Communication Today: More Content, More Colour - More Importance? aims to elaborate on these question with a lecture by Philipp Niemann, head of science communication at Karlsruher Institut für Technologie and a following discussion with various experts in science communication and researchers.
This event was inspired by the exhibition and book launch of Traveling Exhibition UpSideDown and its associated academic graphic novel based on Münster's second international circus conference UpSideDown | Circus and Space (June 2017, organized by GSPoL PhD student Franziska Trapp).

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Textpraxis #15 published!

Textpraxis. Digitales Journal for Philology. The Open Access publication of the GSPoL & the WWU's philologies

The fifteenth issue of Textpraxis. Digital Journal for Philology was released on May 1st. In this issue, Jana Wittenzellner presents different conceptions of authorship with regards to the writings of Hildegart Rodriguez. Julian Ingelmann poses the question why the genre short stories dominates German writing forums, while Verena Meis examines parasitic tendencies in Kathrin Rögglas' works.

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© B. Fritsch

Impressions: Münster Lectures 2018 | Theory and Practice in Feminism* Today?

Jan. 12, 2018 I 7pm I Lecture Hall JO1 (Johannisstr. 4)

The GSPoL is pleased to have held a productive Münster Lectures 2018 exploring the relationship between feminist* theory and activism. Cultural theorist and author Laina Dawes from the Department of Music at Columbia University (USA) and Sonja Eismann, co-founder, co-publisher and editor-in-chief of Missy Magazine: Magazin für Pop, Politik und Feminismus (Berlin, Germany) introduced their work and located it in the field of theory and activism, inviting fruitful discussion with the audience. Find impressions of the event here:

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© L. Espinoza

Student Conference "Pop Hero and Action Princess - Negotiating Gender in Popular Culture

January 12 - 13, 2018 | English Department WWU Münster

This conference aims to address the role of gender in popular culture, how it is represented and read. The discussion will focus on the political power of such representations and their impact on cultural practices; their critical and subversive potential. In order to do so, we would like to engage with various aspects of popular culture and look forward to discussing gender (re-)presentations and performances in a range of different media, including Film, Music, TV, Literature, Comic, Social Media, and other online media.

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© GS PoL

Textpraxis #14 published!

Textpraxis. Digitales Journal for Philology. The Open Access publication media of the GSPoL

The fourteenth issue of Textpraxis. Digital Journal for Philology was released on November 1st! Nicole M. Mueller discusses the posibilities of a digital literature research based on japanese Thomas-Mann-Translations. Silja Wendt shows, how intermediality causes the performative character of the Sherlock series. Ted Underwood interviews Cosima Mettner and talks about the relevance of digital methods in literary analyzes.

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Lecture Series: Literary Concepts Post 2000

This winter term, we cordially invite all PhD students and guests to attend our new lecture series. Five international guests will present and discuss their papers on concepts and developments that have shaped our understanding of literature in the new millennium. 

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© Birte Fritsch

Members Meet & Greet: Winter Term Kick-Off

Get-Together at Münster's Skulpturprojekte

At a Skulpturprojekte-Tour, new and old members of the GSPoL were invited to come together and get to know each other. The GSPoL would like to give a big thanks to the PhD student's representatives for organizing the event. We are very excited for the start of the winter term with new and old faces and looking forward to productive exchanges! Find here some impressions of the event:

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© Zirkus|Wissenschaft

Strategic Planning Session: "Women* | Circus | Work | Gender"

Report from Zirkus|Wissenschaft 's conference "UpSideDown - Circus and Space"

A strategic planning session on women* working in circus and circus studies took place at the conference UpSideDown - Circus and Space at June 30, 2017, organised from Zirkus|Wissenschaft, a project of PhD student Franziska Trapp. Initiater Franziska Trapp and workshop organizer Elisabeth Zimmermann are very happy about the productive exchange and interesting results and would like to address a special thanks to the equal opportunity's office of the WWU.

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Productive Colloquium in the Summer Term of 2017

The colloquium of the GSPoL took place on June 1st and 2nd as a compact workshop. The GSPoL was very pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. Lut Missinne (Dutch Literature) und Prof. Dr. Martina Wagner-Egelhaaf (German Literature), and, in addition, various international guests who participated in the discussion of PhD theses and thus enriched the very productive GSPoL colloquium! A big thank you to all participants!

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© Julius Noack

Filmscreening of the CineClub

Every Wednesday | German Department VSH18 | 20:00

The GSPoL project group Cine Club would like to invite anyone interested in joining them for their new film series " Alternate Realities". Every wednesday the Cine Club meets at the German Department, room VSH18, 20:00, to screen and discuss a movie with the subject "Alternate Realities in Film".

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Textpraxis #13 published!

Textpraxis. Digitales Journal for Philology. The Open Access publication media of the GSPoL

The thirtheenth issue of Textpraxis. Digital Journal for Philology was released on May 1st!

Jennifer Clare tests a synthesis of Stephen Greenblatt and Rüdiger Campe’s text-context approaches to literature in her analysis of Bernward Vesper’s Die Reise, Vanessa Hannesschläger investigates the concrete poetry movement as a ‘European project’, and Hannes Höfer deals with intermediality in literary representations of jazz music.

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Call for Abstracts - TEXTPRAXIS. Digitales Journal für Philologie - Issue 14

Articles must be submitted by April 1st, 2017

TEXTPRAXIS is seeking articles for its thirteenth issue. If you wish to contribute, please submit your abstracts (max. 500 words) by April 1st, 2017.

TEXTPRAXIS publishes articles in literary and cultural studies within the following areas: “Literature and Society,” “Theories of Literary Study,” and “Literary Studies and Praxis.” Articles from any philological discipline are welcome.

All articles published by TEXTPRAXIS are open access and reviewed.

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© BirteFritsch
© GS PoL

Filmscreening of the CineClub: "Inside Llewyn Davis"

Mon February 20th, 2017| 8 p.m. | VSH 116

The 'Cine Club', a GSPoL project group, would like to invite anyone interested in joining them for a film screening on Monday, February 20th, at 8 p.m. in VSH 116, Schlossplatz 34.

After screening and discussing Wong Kar-Wai's melancholy tale of love and loneliness "In the Mood for Love", followed by meta-comedy "Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance" (Alejandro G. Iñárritus), British satire "Four Lions" (2010) by Chris Morris, "Mulholland Dr." by David Lynch (2001) and "La Grande Bellezza" by Paolo Sorrentino (2013), the next movie to be analysed is "Inside Llewyn Davis".

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Public Lecture & Masterclass: "Mediterranianism"

with Dr. Tomislav Zelic | 08.02.2017 | 18:00 c.t. | Festsaal | Schlossplatz 5

The GSPoL extends a warm welcome to Dr. Tomislav Zelic from Zadar University, Croatia, for a public lecture and following masterclass concering the idea of "Mediterranianism" as a tool for discourse analysis in the tradition of Said's "Orientialism" (1977) and Todorova's "Balkanism" (1997). The Mediterranean Sea as catalyst of European identity formation connecting self-autorization and self-authentification furthers the (self)distinction between the European Self as Other. Dr Zelic asserts that this literary-imaginative process can be seen in German literary history analyzing baroque and German contemporary literature as example.

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Considering a PhD in Literary Studies?

Wednesday 8th February 2017 | 12.00 s.t. | IDN 3.06

The GS PoL is pleased to announce a short workshop, offering a briefing for students considering a PhD in literary studies at the WWU. The event will provide information on where and how to begin your application and planning for a dissertation and gives an introduction on the work of the Graduate School 'Practices of Literature'.

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© Birte Fritsch

Public Lecture "'Realitätswütig' - on contemporary varieties of aesthetic intervention"

Prof. Dr. Lars Koch | 18.01.2017 | 6 p.m. | Festsaal, Schlossplatz 5

The GSPoL is pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. Lars Koch from Dresden to a public lecture and masterclass. The lecture focusses on different art activists fighting against global capitalism: Friedrich von Borries, Milo Rau, and the Centre for Political Beauty, three main figures but with different approaches in the field of aesthetic intervention. Examining the aesthetical self- and external reference, and their different approaches to disrupt and redefine reality conventions as well as cultural perception, the lecture seeks to point out the interrelationship of politics and art.

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© michaeljung - fotolia.com

Successful PhD completions

New Alumni in 2016

We would like to cordially congratulate our alumni Seth Berk, Till Huber, Japhet Johnstone, Caroline Kögler, Torsten Leine, Katharina Müller, Markus Nehl, Janneke Schoene and Kerstin Wilhelms on the completion of their doctoral degrees in 2016!

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© BirteFritsch

Invitation: Screening "Birdman"

Monday 12th of December| 6 p.m. | VSH

The 'Cine Club', new project group of the GSPoL, would like to invite anyone interested to join them for the first screening on Monday 12th of December at 6 p.m. in VSH, Schlossplatz 34. The first film to be watched and discussed was be Wong Kar-Wai's melancholy tale of love and loneliness from 2002: "In the Mood for Love". This time we will take an analytic look at the meta-comedy "Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance".

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© Photo-Beagle/Photocase.com

PhD Scholarships: Call for Applications for International Students

Application deadline: 30th of November 2016

In cooperation with the DAAD, the Department of Philology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-University in Münster is offering two scholarships for interested and qualified international doctoral candidates in the area of literary studies starting October 1st 2017. The Graduate School 'Practices of Literature' offers the opportunity to complete your doctorate degree within three years and to prepare for an academic career in university or non-university professions.
 

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Symposium on The Cambridge History of Black and Asian British Writing

September 28-30th 2016

From September 28-30th, the Chair of English, Postcolonial & Media Studies and Open University will be co-hosting a unique collaborative Symposium. Compiling the very first Cambridge History of Black and Asian British Writing, editors Professor Susheila Nasta (Open Univesity) and Professor Mark Stein (Münster) have invited their contributors to a three-day research and cooperation workspace through which the writing process shall be enhanced and productively facilitated.
The Event includes an Evening to Celebrate Black and Asian British Writing on Thursday 29 September with readings from renowned authors, showcasing literature from the UK’s Black and Asian writers. More

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THE FANTASTIC NOW: RESEARCH IN THE FANTASTIC IN THE 21st CENTURY

Seventh annual conference of the Association for Research in the Fantastic

The seventh annual conference of the Association for Research in the Fantastic under the title The Fantastic Now: Research in the Fantastic in the 21st Century aims to include the greatest possible number of diverse voices and perspectives to do justice to the multiplicity and interdisciplinarity of the field in order to discuss its societal and cultural implications.
The conference will takeplace at the Westfälische-Wilhelms University of Münster, English Seminar, from the 22nd to 24th of September 2016.

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© WWU - Peter Grewer

Day of Junior Scientists 2016

September 13 2016 I 14:00 - 21:00 I Schloss Münster

The WWU Graduate Centre cordially invites all doctoral candidates and postdocs to the Day of Junior Scientists in Münster. Its focus will be on the ways and means to support junior scientists in their academic careers.

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Call for Articles - TEXTPRAXIS. Digital Journal for Philology - 13th Issue

Articles must be submitted by September 15, 2016

TEXTPRAXIS is seeking articles for its thirteenth issue. If you wish to contribute, please submit your abstracts (max. 500 words) by September 15, 2016.

TEXTPRAXIS publishes articles in literary and cultural studies within the following areas: “Literature and Society,” “Theories of Literary Study,” and “Literary Studies and Praxis.” Articles from any philological discipline are welcome.

All articles published by TEXTPRAXIS are open access and reviewed.

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© uni-muenster.de/Smartnetwork/

Europe as a space of science

Invitation to the 7th Networking Day at the WWU!

On June 22nd 2016, smartNETWORK, the association of the graduate schools of the humanities and social sciences, will host the seventh networking day at Johannerstraße 4. Opportunities provided by the European Union for young researchers will be the day's topic.

For further information, click here


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© Promovierendenvertretung WWU

Second General Assembly of all PHD Students of the WWU

June 22nd 2016 I 6 p.m. I seminar room of the Graduate Centre (Schlossplatz 6)

At the second general assembly of all PhD students of the WWU, the ASta representatives for the PhD students will be elected. After that, a film screening of PhD Movie 2 with free snacks and drinks will provide a casual setting for an informal get-together.

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© giftgruen / Photocase.com

Optimal Publication of a Dissertation

June 13th 2016 I Festsaal der WWU I Schlossplatz 5

The GS PoL is pleased to announce a workshop in cooperation with Dr. Viola Voß and the ULB, which will focus on the optimal publication of a dissertation.

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12th Issue of Textpraxis

Textpraxis Issue # 12 was released on May 1st.
In the »Literature and Society« section, Jean Marie Carey (Dunedin) analyzes the polysemic meaning of Franz Marc’s painting in her article »Eyes Be Closed: Franz Marc’s Liegender Hund im Schnee«. In the »Theories of Literary Study« section, Tilmann Köppe and Jan Stühring (Göttingen) expand Genette’s three categories zero focalization, internal and external focalization in their article »Is zero focalization reducible to variable internal and external focalization?«. Köppe and Stühring aim to clearly differentiate those terms. In the »Literary Studies and Praxis« section, Lena Lang (Göttingen) deals with Jelinek’s digital (self-)promotion of ,privacy’ and intimacy as well as publicity and disappearance in her article »Elfriede privat?! Elfriede Jelineks digitale Selbstinszenierung«.

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Perspective Promotion - German sponsorship foundation

Das Rektorat der WWU lädt Promotionsinteressierte und Promovierende, die am Anfang ihrer Dissertation stehen und sich für eine Förderung durch ein Begabtenförderungswerk interessieren, herzlich zu einer Infoveranstaltung im Schloss ein. Die fächerübergreifenden Fördererinstitutionen werden sowohl durch WWU-interne als auch externe Referentinnen und Referenten vorgestellt. Während eines Infocafés und im Anschluss an die Vorstellungen wird die Gelegenheit zum Austausch und zur Vernetzung geboten.

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Closing Event of the PhD Research Group Literary Theory as Theory of Society

The PhD Research Group (Promotionskolleg) Literary Theory as Theory of Society, which took up work in the summer term 2012, is an independent college of the Graduate School Practices of Literature and it is funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation. The official ending of the project will be celebrated with a closing ceremony on May 3rd 2016. Prof. Dr. Eckart Gobel from the Univserity of Tuebingen will hold a lecture on "Paria und Patria. Hannah Arendts 'Gespensterwelt'"at the event.

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Call for applications 2016 - apply until 29th of April!

Reaserach Training Programme "Literary Form: History and Culture of Aesthetic Modelling"

Within the framework of the Reaserach Training Programme "Literary Form: History and Culture of Aesthetic Modelling"(RTG 1886/1), funded by the German Research Council, the University of Muenster advertises up to 12 doctoral scholarships.

Funding is to commence on 1 October 2016 and lasts at least 30 months. For further information on the application process please click here.

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New lectures and interviews online at LitFlix

New lectures are available in the online media library LitFlix!
Camilla Damkjaer's lecture in the context of the International Conference "Semiotics of the Circus" in cooperation with Cirque Bouffon and Marjorie Levinson's keynote speach "Lyric: the Idea of This Invention" of the international conference "Literary Form. History and Culture of Aesthetic Modeling" at the WWU are now online at LitFlix, the online media library of the GS PoL and the Research Training Group Literary Form.

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Four visiting fellowships for postgraduates / doctoral candidates from the SFB 1150 “Cultures of Decision-making”

Submit applications no later than March 20th

The Integrated Graduate School of the Collaborative Research Centre/ SFB 1150 “Cultures of Decision-making”, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) at the University of Muenster since July 1st 2015, is offering four visiting fellowships for postgraduates / doctoral candidates in 2016 for a period of up to six months, starting in April 2016. Please find the announcement here.

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Publication "Crimes of Passion" now available!

Representation of sexual pathology in the early 20th century

Published by two GS PoL members, the publication Crimes of Passion to the corresponding international conference held in Muenster (24 to 26 July 2013) and organised by GS PoL members is now available!

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Lecture with Prof. Dr. Clemens Ruthner (Trinity College Dublin)

"Thresholds & Transitions. Liminality as heuristic concept in literary and cultural studies"

In his lecture, Clemens Ruthner will explore the question how the principle of liminality (Victor Turner) is a defining factor of the genre "fantastic literature". Furthermore he will examine if and how fantastic literature and literature in general can overcome liminality through "undead" key figures e.g. the vampire.
Place and Time: Thu, 14.01.2015, 18:15 - 19:45, Senatssaal (Schlossplatz 2)

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Successful PhD completions

New Alumni in 2015

We would like to cordially congratulate our alumni Zornitsa Dimitrova, Till Huber, Japhet Johnstone, Torsten Leine, Caroline Kögler and Kerstin Wilhelms on the completion of their doctoral degrees in 2015!

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2015 - The Year in Review


The GS PoL is happy to look back on another year's interesting activities.
We would like to invite you to review 2015 with us!

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Call for Papers - TEXTPRAXIS #12

TEXTPRAXIS, the online publication of the Graduate School ‘Practices of Literature’ is seeking articles for its twelfth issue. TEXTPRAXIS publishes articles in literary and cultural studies within the following areas: “Literature and Society,” “Theories of Literary Study,” and “Literary Studies and Praxis.” If you wish to contribute, please submit your article by January 15th, 2016.

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Scholarships for international PhD-Students

The College of Philology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-University in Münster is looking for interested and qualified international doctoral candidates in the area of Literary Studies starting October 1st 2016. In the Graduate School 'Practices of Literature' you will have the opportunity to complete your doctorate degree within three years and to prepare yourself for an academic career in university or non-university professions. The deadline for application for the winter semester 2016/17 is the 30th of November 2015.

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Keynotelecture now online

After the proceedings of the conference „digital. sozial. marginal? Literatur und Computerspiel in der digitalen Gesell­schaft“ have been published online, the keynote lecture held by Dr. Rolf Nohr on "'When you hear the buzzer, stare at the art.' Spielen als Test " is now also available on Litflix, the Youtube-channel of the GS PoL.

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Masterclass on "Parallelpoesie"

On augst 20th Prof. Dr. Jörg Kreienbrock will hold a masterclass on „Parallelpoesie: Zur Relation von Dichtung und Theorie nach deren Ende“.

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Undergraduate assistant wanted

The Coordinating Office of the GS PoL is actually looking for an undergraduate assistant. The position is to be filled until October 1st 2015. Applications can be submitted until Sunday, 06.09.2015.

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Interviews with NeinQuarterly now online

On 26th June NeinQuarterly (Eric Jarosinski) was in Münster for a public lecture. The German media channel WDR and Deutschlandfunk made a report including an interview that is available on their websides.

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5-7 October 2015: Literary Form. History and Culture of Aesthetic Modeling

International Conference

Research Training Group Literary Form. History and Culture of Aesthetic Modeling is hosting an internantional conference from 5-7 October 2015. The international conference on ‘Literary Form. History and Culture of Aesthetic Modeling’ will build upon that recent interest in form from a comparative perspective: the perspective of classical and modern languanges, literatures, and media. It will investigate the function of aesthetic modeling for a transdisciplinary discourse on poetic form.

Current Positions Available at the Graduate School 'Practices of Literature'

The College of Philology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-University in Münster is looking for interested and qualified doctoral candidates in the area of Literary Studies starting October 1st 2015. In the Graduate School, 'Practices of Literature', you will have the opportunity to complete your doctorate degree within three years and to prepare yourself for an academic career in university or non-university professions.

Media center LitFlix now online

A media group consisting of postgraduates from Münster have started their own YouTube-channel to document lectures and events in the area of literary studies. The channel LitFlix is now online!

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Publication "Ästhetik des Zufalls"

The Winter Verlag has recently published the conference anthology Case Studies of Coincidence. Epistemologies of the Unforseen in Literature and Theory. The conference was organized by members of the GS PoL in 2013.

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Conference "Work in Progress. Work and auto/biographical narration"

The aim of the conference is to take the multiple discursive links into account and to ask how the different dimensions of work shape the presentation of one’s (own) life. On the one hand, the conference will take a look at auto/biographies and other auto/biographical media, i.e. on genres that allow an explicit focusing on an individual’s life or on the individual as a foil for more general, epistemological reflection. On the other hand, auto/biographical forms will be taken into account, that serve as a data basis for the science of history, sociology or psychology.

Lecture & Masterclass on digital editions with Dr. Gabriele Radecke and Mathias Göbel

On 19th of February Dr. Gabriele Radecke will hold a lecture on Theodor Fontane's notebooks: "Notizbuch-Editionen. Zu Materialität und Medialität von Theodor Fontanes Notizbüchern und ihrer editorischen Repräsentation". On 20th February there will be an additional masterclass on "Digitale Editionen" with Dr. Radecke and Mathias Göbel, that will give an introduction to edition philology as well as "TextGrid".

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Successful PhD completions

New Alumni in 2014

We would like to cordially congratulate our alumni Maximilian Häusler and Jesper Reddig on completing their PhD in 2014!

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CFP: Semiotics of the Circus

On behalf of the Westfälische Wilhems-Universität Münster we would like to invite you to the first German conference dedicated to the topic "circus". The conference will take place from 15th to 17th April 2015 in cooperation with Cirque Bouffon. The conference will be held in English, please submit your contributions by February 15, 2015.

Publication: Dr. James Orao "Selbstverortungen"

We are pleased to announce the publication "Selbstverortungen. Migration und Identität in der zeitgenössischen deutsch- und englischsprachigen Gegenwartsliteratur" of Dr. James Orao, who was the first PhD graduate of the Graduate School in 2012.

Now online: About:Games. Video-Channel on Game Studies

The GSPoL interview with game designer Kevin Menzt is now online - as well as the Youtube-channel "About:Games", hosted by the project group "Gamestudies", which offers tutorials and "Let's analyze" Videos as an introduction to the theory of computer game analysis.

Masterclass “Game Studies & Game Design”

The Graduate School Practices of Literature proudly presents Kevin Mentz, Gamedesigner working for Daedalic Entertainment, which is currently holding the Studio of the Year Award 2013. He will give a talk on "Story breaking and breaking stories" at Thursday, September 4th 2014.

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Current Positions Available at the Graduate School 'Practices of Literature'

The College of Philology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-University in Münster is looking for interested and qualified doctoral candidates in the area of Literary Studies starting April 1st 2015. In the Graduate School, 'Practices of Literature', you will have the opportunity to complete your doctorate degree within three years and to prepare yourself for an academic career in university or non-university professions.

Publication: Innokentij Kreknin - Poetiken des Selbst

We would like to congratulate Dr. Innokentij Kreknin on the publication of his PhD thesis entitled "Poetiken des Selbst. Identität, Autorschaft und Autofiktion am Beispiel von Rainald Goetz, Joachim Lottmann und Alban Nikolai Herbst".

Rambo meets Tatort

Special Guests from Kiel at the WWU: The GSPoL will host a special lecture on Rambo and Tatort. The event takes place on wednesday 25th of June, 6 pm, room JO1 (Johannisstraße). Please note that the lectures will be held in German.

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Scholarships for international PhD-Students

The College of Philology at the Westfälische Wilhelms-University in Münster is looking for interested and qualified international doctoral candidates in the area of Literary Studies starting October 1st 2015. In the Graduate School, 'Practices of Literature', you will have the opportunity to complete your doctorate degree within three years and to prepare yourself for an academic career in university or non-university professions.

Lecture Series: Europa. Literarische Figurationen

The Europakolleg will host a lecture series on literary figurations in europe. The event takes place on wednesdays, 16. pm, room JO1 (Johannisstraße). Please note that the lectures will be held in German.

International Conference on European Identities

In April, the Europa Kolleg will host the international conference "Living Europe, Writing Europe: Literary Perceptions of Urbanization and ‹Provincializing› European Identities". The event is is organized by doctoral students of different fields of research and is addressed to young academics.

Publication: Dr. Maren Conrad

We would like to cordially congratulate Dr. Maren Conrad on the publication of her PhD thesis entitled "Aufbrüche der Ordnung, Anfänge der Phantastik. Ein Modell zur methodischen Balladenanalyse, entwickelt am Beispiel der phantastischen Kunstballade".

Guest Lecture: Dr. Thomas Ernst

Upon the invitation of Hans Böckler PhD Research Group (Promotionskolleg) Literary Theory as Theory of Society, Dr. Thomas Ernst (Universität Essen/Duisburg) will hold a public lecture on his recent publication Literatur und Subversion. Politisches Schreiben in der Gegenwart.

Successful PhD completions

We would like to cordially congratulate Kirstin Frieden, Caren Heuer, Christoph Plaumbaum und Anna Thiemann on the completion of their doctoral degrees in 2013.

4th Network-Day Topic: Research and Fraud: Plagiarism

What is our understanding of plagiarism, what are the effects and how can researchers deal with this topic? On the 14th of February 2013 the smartNETWORK invites all members of the participating graduate schools to their 4th Network-Day. The event takes place in the facilities of the Cluster of Excellence “Religion and Politics” (Johannisstraße 4).

Publication: Boris Hoge - Schreiben über Russland. Die Konstruktion von Raum, Geschichte und kultureller Identität in deutschen Erzähltexten seit 1989

We are pleased to announce the publication of Dr. Boris Hoge’s book Schreiben über Russland. Die Konstruktion von Raum, Geschichte und kultureller Identität in deutschen Erzähltexten seit 1989 (Writings on Russia: The construction of Space, History and Cultural Identity in German Literature after 1989). Dr. Hoge completed his PhD with Graduate School
Practices of Literature last year. 

Pull the books out of the fire!

80 years ago, book burnings took place all over Germany, also in Münster: National Socialists and right-wing students’ groups literally purged writings they considered to be oppositional to their ideology, even to be degenerate. A local initiative commemorates the book burnings.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bauer receives highest German research prize

Prof. Dr. Thomas Bauer (Arab and Islam Studies) has been awarded the German Research Foundation’s prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz Prize 2013. We would like to congratulate Prof. Dr. Bauer.
The DFG commented: “Thomas Bauer is an Islamic studies scholar who has combined the philological interpretation and editing of texts with an approach that is as broad as it is innovative, taking in historical considerations relating to culture and mentality, making his work potentially unique in the world. Bauer is known for his research into Arabic poetry, including the Onager Episode and the Abbasid Period.”

Lecture and Workshop with Dr. Carrie Smith-Prei

The Graduate School Practices of Literature and the PK LitG Literary Theory as Theory of Society will host a workshop with Dr. Carrie Smith-Prei (University of Alberta) on the topic “Failures, precarious feminisms and the political potential of the awkward”. The event will take place on the 15th and 16th of January 2013 and includes a public lecture and a workshop for the graduate students of the GS PoL and PK LitG.

Opening of the Europa-Kolleg

The newly-established Europa-Kolleg unites three individual projects from English, German and Slavic studies that are funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The event will last about two hours and takes place at the Festsaal of the University on the 27th November 2012, at 6 pm at the Festsaal (Schlossplatz 5). Everyone interested is kindly invited to join the event.

Lecture and Workshop with Prof. Dr. Klaus-Michael Bogdal

The Graduate School Practices of Literature and the Promotionskolleg Literary theory as Theory of Society (University of Münster) will host a workshop with Prof. Dr. Klaus-Michael Bogdal (Bielefeld) on the 21st and 22nd of November 2012.

Lecture and Workshop with KD Wolf

On the 21st of May 2012 KD Wolff will give a lecture on the topic Von der 68er Studentenbewegung zum Klassikerverlag (18.15-20.00, Festsaal of the University). Seminar of the GSPoL and of the PK LitG: 22nd of May 2012 (10.00-12.00 and 13.00-15.00), Alexander-von-Humbold Haus (Hüfferstraße 61), Room 139.

Opening: Promotionskolleg

On 11th of April 2012 the official opening ceremony of the PhD Research Group (Promotionskolleg) Literary Theory as Theory of Society took place in the Festsaal of the University.

Thesis defence

The members of the Graduate School Practices of Literature would like to cordially congratulate James Orao who successfully defended his doctoral thesis.

Graduate Conference

The GSPoL organized a graduate conference titled “Anything goes? Literary theory in the 21st Century” at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster (21st and 22nd May 2010).

Münster Lectures - A Dialogue Between Literature and Theory

The Münster Lectures seek to combine the merits of theoretical and literary insight, inviting both a well-known scholar and prominent a writer to discuss current debates, scholastic and social likewise. Shedding new light on controversial debates functions as a mode of cultural encounter, the lectures and discussions are open for participation to scholars, students, and the interested public. The Münster Lectures strengthen not only the interdisciplinary exchange among members of the university, but also bridges a gap between the university and the city of Münster

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Why Literary Studies Matter Now: Academic Practices in an Anti-Intellectual Climate

Lecture Series 2018/19 | Mondays | starting October 15, 2018 | 6pm | Lecture Hall S 9 (Schloss)

This year's lecture series will create an interdisciplinary dialogue by addressing issues such as "Realitie(s) in Literary Studies", "Factual Fictions", as well as "Political Correctness in Academic Discourse", and more. Further information and a detailled schedule coming soon!