This seminar explores the literary field as a dynamic and complex system shaped by institutions, actors, and cultural practices. Taking as a starting point the concept of literary institutions as self-organising rule systems, we investigate how these structures shape, stabilise, and transform the production and circulation of literature.

Key questions include: Who gets published, when, where, and under what conditions? How is literary value generated? Where does literature happen today - on BookTok or still on blue sofas? Through discussions of gatekeeping mechanisms, publication infrastructures, and the workings of symbolic and economic capital, we try to gain insight into the structures that underpin contemporary literary culture.

A particular focus is placed on the role of authors as central figures within the literary field and their entanglements with other institutional actors such as publishers, critics, prize juries, and cultural funding bodies.

Readings:

- Carolin Amlinger: Schreiben. Eine Soziologie literarischer Arbeit. Berlin: Suhrkamp Verlag 2021.

- Philipp Theison u. Christine Weder (Hg.): Literaturbetrieb. Zur Poetik einer Produktionsgemeinschaft. Paderborn: Brill u. Fink 2013.

• 80% attendance and active participation

• Development of an artistic, literary, or journalistic research project to be presented in January

Examples:

• Literary field research in the area of ... literary prizes / social media / ... → for instance, in the form of a text about a prize ceremony integrating relevant academic literature

• Interview with a professional from the literary field addressing a specific research question (e.g. literary agencies – how are manuscripts selected?)

• ... or something entirely different (topics will be developed collaboratively during the first seminar block in November)

Detailed requirements and examination modalities will be discussed in the first session.