Reading research in Greifswald: myth or science?

Reading research in Greifswald: myth or science?

Greifswald, Deutschland - dr. Elias Kreuzmair, research assistant in the area of ​​recent German literature and literature theory at the Institute for German Philology, has received a project funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) for his project "Writing reading. Poetologies of knowledge about reading". This innovative project, which illuminates reading from a literary point of view, offers new insights into the role of reading in human identity.

Kreuzmair plans to subject facts to a detailed literary analysis. He will examine central elements such as narrative structures, metaphors and reading scenes. The scientist uses established methods of knowledge history and literary studies to develop a profound understanding of literary practices. The body of his project comprises a variety of texts, including early modern reading honors, reading -related discourses from the past 200 years, as well as scientific publications about reading that have been published in the past hundred years.

The role of reading in history

The project of Dr. Kreuzmair enriches the existing knowledge of literature and reading practices. The professionalization of literary studies has historical roots that go back to antiquity. Libraries such as those collected and recorded in Alexandria and Pergamon to examine their history of tradition. These developments led to understanding crises, which among other things stimulated Plato and Aristotle to think about poetry and their understanding. Literature also documented intensified attention for literary texts in the 17th and 18th centuries, which has refined and professionalized over time. 

in the 19th century, with the emergence of modern research university, the literary handling of texts received a new quality. Wilhelm von Humboldt made a decisive contribution to the organizational and content -related realignment of the university -bound culture of knowledge. Despite this progress, it turns out that scientific processing methods for literature depend heavily on the availability of resources and public acceptance.

literary criticism and modern developments

The development of literary criticism is a central aspect of literary studies, especially between 1750 and 1950. René Wellek devoted himself to "history of literary criticism" of this topic in his multi -volume work. Wellek's work, often attributed to the New Criticism, includes not only the assessment of books, but also comprehensive aspects of literature theory. Northern European literary criticism, on the other hand, can hardly be found in his analysis .

The approaches of Dr. Kreuzmair, Wellek and other scientists illustrate that dealing with literary criticism and the associated theories and practices stimulates a continuous discourse that extends to the present. The connection between reading, writing and the creative handling of texts remains of central importance and shows how identity concepts can develop through literary practices.

dr. Kreuzmair returned to the University of Greifswald for his current project, where he wants to continue to follow his project. He has recognized that reading plays a fundamental role in the life of people and that they often define themselves about this ability. With his research, he not only wants to question existing myths about reading, but also to examine the connection between active reading and the intellectual and emotional development of people.