Thematic Network “Literature – Knowledge – Media” (1st Funding Phase)

The thematic network “Literature – Knowledge – Media” (project leader: Prof. Dr. Joseph Vogl) aims at strengthening the research profile of the departments of literary, cultural, and media studies an Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. It furthermore wants to broaden the interdisciplinary approach of the departments and position them in a larger international frame. Cooperating partners are: Cornell University; Harvard University; New York University; Princeton University; and University of California, Berkeley. The cooperation between these universities and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is steadily extended and stabilized to guarantee long lasting relationships. The projects consists of four different types of actions: 1) periodic strategic meetings of the PIs and coordinating staff in which the networks basic strategy and topics are discussed and modified if need be; 2) regular exchange programs from graduate students to PhD students, postdocs, and faculty. The format of these exchanges is organized according to the specific projects of graduate students and PhD students. (e.g. graduate conferences); 3) informal academic meet-ups and research stays abroad (guest lectures, short term seminars, small working groups). These enable the short and flexible management of various research interests; 4) combination of research perspectives and measures that benefit the organisational integration of the network: For the four years of funding, the four main research topics will be “practices”, “resources”, “transformations”, and “expertise”.