Manon Berthier

Manon Berthier is a PhD candidate in Comparative Literature at Paris-Est University Créteil Val de Marne (UPEC), conducting doctoral research on queer political readings of contemporary French- and English-language fantasy under Vincent Ferré (Sorbonne Nouvelle). She simultaneously holds a part-time ATER position in Cultural Studies at the University of Lorraine for 2023-2024.

Research Profile: Berthier's work intersects literary theory, feminist/queer studies, and reception analysis. Her dissertation investigates how fantasy literature articulates gender relations through dual methodologies: feminist narratological critique of texts and ethnographic study of reader appropriations. Geographically, she examines both Francophone and Anglophone traditions from the 1970s to present.

Publication Trends: Recent scholarship demonstrates consistent focus on marginalized narratives, including lesbian literary spaces (2021), ecofeminist praxis (2022), and medievalist appropriations in fantasy (2022-2023). Her work frequently engages with Arthurian legend (Avalon motifs) and contemporary queer theory to analyze power dynamics in imaginary worlds.

Academic Engagement: Berthier contributes to multiple research collectives: Philomel (Sorbonne University), Medieval Modernities, Laboratoire des Imaginaires, and Les Jaseuses. She co-organizes the international seminar Literature at the Oblique and serves on the jury for Ouest Hurlant's literary prize (2022-2024).

Teaching: At University of Lorraine, she delivers Cultural Studies lectures (50% load) covering medieval heritage, imaginary fictions, and film adaptations. Previously at UPEC, she taught introductory literature courses and reading workshops for undergraduates.