Graduate Research Groups of the GGK

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.

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.

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.

Comparative and Interdisciplinary Issues

The fourth module in the interdisciplinary research profile of the IPP revolves around comparative issues with special reference to memory studies. It also includes issues of intermediality (such as 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 and transculturality.

In addition to the IPP’s own key areas of research, IPP members are strongly encouraged to actively engage in one or several of the junior research groups within the Giessen Graduate Centre for Humanities (GGK).

Furthermore, the GGK offers postgraduate students the chance to establish working groups on topics of shared interest relevant to your dissertation projects. These working groups are student initiatives that are eligible for financial and organisational support (e.g. for conferences or collected volumes). Here you find a list of currently active working groups. Our junior research groups and working groups always welcome new members! If you are interested in founding your own working group, please contact the GGK team for further information and proceedings.