معرفی
Prof. Dr. Kai Merten is Professor of English Literature at the University of Erfurt, specifically in the Department of English Literary Studies within the Faculty of Philosophy. He specializes in literature in English since the Renaissance, with particular expertise in British Romanticism, contemporary poetry, and the intersections of literature with media and material culture.
His academic journey includes:
- Studied English Literature, Latin and Psychology at the Universities of Munich (LMU) and St Andrews
- Completed PhD in Munich in 2002
- Postdoctoral research fellow at the Graduate School 'Classicism and Romanticism' at the University of Giessen (JLU)
- Research grant from the German Research Council (DFG) at the IASH of the University of Edinburgh
- Worked as an assistant lecturer at the University of Kiel (CAU)
- Completed habilitation at CAU in 2011, receiving venia legendi for 'British Literary and Cultural Studies'
- Professor for 'Neuer Englische Literaturforschung' (Literature in English since the Renaissance) at the University of Erfurt since April 2015
Prof. Merten's research interests span British Romanticism, Contemporary Poetry in English, Literature and Media History, Postcolonial Media Culture, Theatre and Theatricality, New Materialism, Energy Humanities, and Watermills and other riverside buildings in British literature and culture. His work often explores the intersections between literature, media theory, and material culture, with a particular focus on how objects and environments shape literary expression. Recent projects include the Erfurt Network on New Materialism, Religious Media Conflicts in the Early Modern Period, and Puppetry as a Model of Literature and Language in the 20th and 21st century.
His scholarly output demonstrates a consistent engagement with how literary texts interact with broader cultural, historical, and material contexts, particularly examining the relationship between language, embodiment, and material objects. His work on diffraction, reading practices, and new materialism has contributed significantly to contemporary literary theory.
Notable scientific contributions include:
- Co-editing "Konfessionspolitik und Medien in Europa 1500-1700: Konflikte, Konkurrenzen, Theorien" (2021)
- Editing "Diffractive Reading" (2021)
- Co-editing "Postcolonial Studies Meets Media Studies: A Critical Encounter" (2016)
- Organizing collaborative projects with the Waidspeicher Theater in Erfurt
Prof. Merten actively engages in interdisciplinary research, collaborating with theater practitioners, media scholars, and historians to explore the intersections of literature with other cultural forms. His recent workshop on "puppetry in the novel – novels in puppetry" at the University of Erfurt in collaboration with the Waidspeicher Theater as part of the Synergura 2024 festival demonstrates his commitment to bridging academic research with artistic practice.
