Aesthetics and their political functions

The core research areas of the Chair of Modern German Literature and Media Culture Studies are derived from the research interests of Prof. Dr. Lars Koch and his colleagues. Questions grounded in cultural theory—concerning the aesthetics and political functions of literature, popular media, and the modern arts—play a central role.

A primary focus of the research is on aesthetics and theories, as well as the social functions of popular media such as film and TV series, but it also addresses theater and the audiovisual arts. The central research questions focus on their cultural dynamics within contemporary society and have strong connections to cultural theory and cultural studies research on emotions.

The second pillar of the Chair stems from an intense interest in modern German (and international) literature, with a particular emphasis here as well on research questions in the field of cultural narratology. Literature, according to the fundamental assumption guiding the research, is a central medium for observing, reflecting on, and shaping the processes of social transformation.

Overall, the research conducted within the context of the Chair of Modern German Literature and Media Cultural Studies aims to develop and test theoretical tools related to the issues under discussion, based on the research material. By establishing the primacy of the object of study in this way, a broad space for interdisciplinary collaboration is opened up. How these basic assumptions are implemented in practical work can be understood through the work of the ERC Starting Grant research group “The Principle of Disruption: A Figure Reflecting Complex Societies.”