Call for Paper - Student Congress "Literature and Digitality", May 14-16, 2026, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

Literature and digitality

The student congress "Literature and Digitality" will take place from 14.05 - 16.05.2026 at the Martin Luther University in Halle (Saale) .

Digitality has long since changed the production, reception and form of literary texts. This digital penetration of the literary not only influences individual reading practices, but also our academic research interests: How does AI influence the debate about authorship? What role do digital book platforms play in canonization processes? How does distant reading change our understanding of literature (science)? How do digital structures influence bias in relation to race, class and gender? How is digitality negotiated as a motif in literature?

- Literary phenomena in digital space - digital phenomena in literary space -

As a general and comparativestudy of literature, comparative literature deals with fundamental questions of literature from an interdisciplinary perspective and is therefore particularly suited to examining the relationship in a differentiated way.

At the same time, digitality is a phenomenon that not only affects comparative literature, but is also inherent in numerous other disciplines, challenging and enriching them. While the disciplines of film and media studies, digital humanities or game studies are already anchored in digital contexts, disciplines such as comparative literature, philology or medieval studies are faced with the task of reflecting on their subjects and approaches in the context of these developments.

The 16th Student Congress will therefore - in keeping with the hybrid subject matter - be designed as an
interdisciplinary platform that enables students from different disciplines to enter into
departments to enter into discussion with each other.

We welcome contributions that reflect on the challenges and opportunities of the (productive) relationship between literature and digitality. We welcome perspectives that explore this relationship methodologically (for example in the use of digital research approaches in computational literary studies), in terms of content (in the examination of digital themes and motifs) or medially (in new forms and practices of literary production).
new forms and practices of literary production and reception). We also expressly welcome contributions that deal with institutional changes in the literary industry or the concept of the text in the digital age.

In this sense, in addition to classic literary studies and theoretical lectures, we also welcome poster presentations or freer formats, such as digital project presentations - even at an early stage, when questions are still open and feedback is welcome. The student congress can also be used to try things out and should create opportunities for exchange.

As is usual for the student congress, a follow-up publication is being planned. We would like to offer this both as a digital open access publication and in the form of a printed book. The publication should reflect as diverse a perspective as possible on the topic of "Literature and Digitality" and will consist of a selection of the submitted presentations. The decision will be made after the student congress.

Call for Papers & Posters
You can apply for one of the two options:

• 20 minute presentation
• Poster presentation (incl. three-minute input)

If you would like to apply, please send us your application by 18.01.2026 to
skk2026@germanistik.uni-halle.de. Let us know which format you would like to apply with. The application should include the following

• A short abstract with literature review of your talk/poster (abstract: 300 words)
• A short introduction about yourself (150 words) - place of study & subject, subject interests, thematic focus, theses, etc.

You are also welcome to apply together if you would like to present a joint project. We expect to inform you about the application process by mid-February.

Organizational matters
There are no fees for the student congress. However, you will have to cover your own travel and accommodation costs. If you are unable to cover the costs of travel and accommodation yourself, please send us a short e-mail (skk2026@germanistik.uni-halle.de) and we will discuss how we can find a joint solution.
can come to a joint solution. We recommend that you ask your Institute whether they can support you financially.

Contact us at

• https://blogs.urz.uni-halle.de/komparatistikkongress2026/

You will find more information soon on the website and here:

• Instagram: skkomparatistik
• Bluesky: skkomparatistik.bsky.social

Comparative Literature (University of Halle)
https://www.germanistik.uni-halle.de/komparatistik/

The Call for Paper can be downloaded as PDF under CfP_SKK_Literature and Digitality.