Universität Wien
Warning! The directory is not yet complete and will be amended until the beginning of the term.

480029 SE Seminar on Literature and Culture (2026S)

Posthumanism in Slavic Studies: More-than-Human Narratives in East Central European Literatures and Cultures since 1900

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 48 - Slawistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 02.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 09.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 16.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 23.03. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 13.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 20.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 27.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 04.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 1 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-EG-17
  • Monday 11.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 18.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 08.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 15.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 22.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37
  • Monday 29.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 7 Slawistik UniCampus Hof 3 2R-O1-37

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

What does the world look like when humans are no longer at its center? And how can we narrate beyond anthropocentric perspectives? This seminar examines artistic strategies of more-than-human storytelling—that is, narratives that treat human, animal, technological, and other non-human actors as equals, or that fundamentally challenge the central position of the human.
In addition to reading key theoretical texts on posthumanism (including Braidotti, Haraway, Bennet), we will read East Central European science fiction classics (including S. Lem, the Strugatsky Brothers, K. Čapek), as well as texts in which human narrative instances recede in favor of non-human perspectives (including works by O. Tokarczuk, S. Twardoch). The reading corpus will be supplemented by films that question the central position of humans in nature or visually negotiate post-apocalyptic scenarios (including A. Tarkovsky, A. Żuławski).
The goal of the seminar is a solid understanding of posthumanist theory as well as the ability to apply it in narratological and medium-specific analyses of non-anthropocentric narrative forms.

Assessment and permitted materials

1) Attendance (max. 3 absences), demonstrated reading of required literature through active participation in discussions, participation in two individual feedback sessions (20%)
2) Oral presentation of approximately 20 minutes during the seminar (30%)
3) Written seminar paper (exact requirements for format, length, and intermediate submissions of outline and research question will be provided in the seminar) - submission deadline for the seminar paper: September 4, 2026 (50%)

Information regarding the use of AI services: The preparation of the seminar paper and presentation must not be done with the assistance of AI-supported tools. Use of AI services is only permitted for editorial post-processing of the text in the sense of proofreading (typos, spelling errors, comma errors).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

100-90%: A (Sehr gut)
89-80%: B (Gut)
79-70%: C (Befriedigend)
69-60%: D (Genügend)

In case of more than three absences, substitute assignments must be completed in order to pass the seminar.

Minimum language requirements: Reading competencies in one or more Slavic languages are advantageous; however, texts will also be made available in German or English translation. The reading corpus may be adapted to participants' language skills.

Examination topics

Materials (primary and secondary literature) will be assigned in the seminar; independent research for the presentation and seminar paper is expected.

Reading list

The reading corpus will be published on Moodle in due time.

Association in the course directory

M.4.2.P, M.5.1.P, M.4.2.Q, M.5.1.Q, M.4.2.T, M.5.1.T, M.6.P, M.6.Q, M.6.T

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 09:28