Amid intensifying political and environmental crises, what are the effects and ethical implications of such storytelling approaches? Inspired by entwined perspectives on the literary imagination such as Maria Stehle’s study of literary form and aesthetics through a combined ecological and critical lens (2023) or Polish author Olga Tokarczuk’s call for a sensitive and feeling narrator who can counter self-centered narratives (2019), we will explore intersectional and comparative approaches to literature, (re)discover texts and authors, and exchange teaching ideas. Texts for consideration could include Sharon Dodua Otoo’s Adas Raum (2021) or W.G. Sebald’s Die Ringe des Saturn (1995), but participants can present German-language texts from any period or genre, as well as translations like Michael Pollan’s Die Botanik der Begierde (2002).

Format: Seminar participants will read pre-circulated articles (up to 50 pages) and submit 3-page reflection papers (due August 15) that engage with the theory through a literary example of their choice. At the seminar, each participant will briefly present their paper (10 minutes), followed by group discussion.

Submission guidelines: Interested participants are asked to submit an abstract describing the nature of their contribution to the seminar (500 words max), as well as a short biography (300 words max) through the OpenWater submissions portal by Friday, February 23, 2024.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Conveners:
Karolina Hicke, Swarthmore College, khicke1@swarthmore.com
Karolina May-Chu, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, maychu@uwm.edu

Contact Information
Karolina Hicke, Swarthmore College, khicke1@swarthmore.com
Karolina May-Chu, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, maychu@uwm.edu