Anne Potjans

Dr. Anne Potjans is a Lecturer and Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of English and American Studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, specializing in English and American Literature and Culture with a focus on Postcolonial Studies. Her academic journey includes completing her doctorate with summa cum laude distinction in 2022, with research focusing on rage and anger in Black Feminist Literature. She has been actively teaching at Humboldt-Universität since 2015 and continues to contribute to the academic community through her innovative research and pedagogy.

Dr. Potjans' research interests span Black Feminist Literature, Postcolonial Studies, American Studies, Cultural Theory, and the emerging field of Night Studies. Her work explores affective economies, particularly the politics and aesthetics of anger in literary works, as well as diasporic identities and visual representations of Blackness. Her doctoral dissertation, 'Why Are You So Angry?' examined the uses of rage in Black Feminist Literature, with her defense focusing on Mad Studies and the music of Nina Simone.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on emotion politics within literary contexts, particularly examining how Black feminist writers deploy anger as both aesthetic strategy and political tool. Her work increasingly intersects with visual culture studies and nocturnal studies, reflecting a broadening interdisciplinary approach to literary and cultural analysis. The temporal progression of her research shows a development from foundational work on autobiographical traditions to more specialized investigations of affective politics in contemporary literature.

• Peter Lang Emerging Scholars Competition in Black Studies: Joint Winner for Publication (2021)
• Honors Curriculum Innovation Award for curriculum development and teaching (2019)
• US Embassy Salzburg Seminar Fellowship for Graduate Students (2018)

Dr. Potjans maintains an active teaching schedule, regularly offering courses on Cultural Studies and Theory, Black Studies, and specialized topics related to her research. Her pedagogical approach reflects her research interests, with courses like 'The Feminist Politics and Poetics of Anger' and 'Afterhours: The Cultural Politics and Poetics of Nighttime' demonstrating her commitment to innovative and interdisciplinary teaching. She has also contributed to international academic exchange as guest faculty at the University of Washington's Honors program.

Her academic home is the Department of English and American Studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, which moved to Dorotheenstraße 28, where she maintains her office in Room 4.15. The department fosters a vibrant research community with regular events including the Humboldt Book Club, which meets in the department's premises.