Research Areas
1. Literary and Cultural Theory, Models, Methodology and Terminology
This module includes basic research in literary and cultural studies such as approaches in poetics, aesthetics, semiotics, discourse analysis, and hermeneutics as well as in gender studies, postcolonial theory and narratology. Furthermore, key terms such as “culture” as well as interpretive models and methodology will be discussed here.
2. Genre Theory
This module encompasses not only recent theories in literary genres and their demarcation but also cognitive, feminist and post-colonial approaches in narratology.
3. Literary and Cultural Historiography
This module foregrounds diachronic perspectives in literary and cultural studies. It discusses and challenges categorisations and periodisation in literary and cultural historiography as well as re-conceptualises selection criteria for canonisation processes.
4. Comparative and Interdisciplinary Issues
The fourth module in the interdisciplinary research profile of the European PhDnet revolves around comparative issues with special reference to memory studies. It also includes issues of intermediality (particularly the relationship between image and text or text and theatre stage) as well as issues of meaning-making in narrative and theatrical contexts. This module will be enhanced by key topics from literary and cultural studies such as identity, transculturality, etc.