Jens Wolff

PD Dr. Jens Wolff is a German theologian and researcher at the Faculty of Theology, University of Rostock. His work bridges image theory, cultural hermeneutics, and negative theology, with a focus on Lutheran theology and its intersections with literature and art.

• Education: Studied at Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle/Wittenberg, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
• Academic Timeline: 1995–1998 Heidelberg Academy researcher, 1998–2002 assistant at Münster's Faculty, 2003 PhD, 2005 ordained pastor, 2009–2012 DFG project on Sigmund von Birken, 2012–2015 DFG project on Image Theory, 2015 habilitation.

Wolff's research explores image and media theory through theological lenses, interrogating figurative knowledge, religious rhetoric, and intercultural hermeneutics. His work connects Baroque literature (e.g., Klopstock, Hamann) with contemporary philological and deconstructive methods, examining tensions between sacralization and secularization.

His recent publications analyze the word of God as performative polysemy in Lutheran thought, death and utopia in Stefan Andres' work, and iconic anthropology in Reformation contexts. He co-edited the two-volume Bild und Tod (2016), a foundational text on image-death relations.

Awards:

• Martin-Luther-Preis für den akademischen Nachwuchs (2005) for his dissertation on Metapher und Kreuz.

Wolff's advising and collaborative work focus on interdisciplinary image studies, including DFG-funded projects and symposia like the Image and Sound conference (2014). He maintains links to institutions in Bratislava, Frankfurt, and Brazil.