230571 Disability in Literature and Film (S) (WiSe 2025/2026)

Representations of disabilities can be found in a variety of literary and cultural products. As a relatively new field of critical theory, Disability Studies investigate the complex relations between physical as well as mental disabilites and various other significant issues such as economic status, opportunity, visibility, inclusion, and discrimination. In this seminar we will explore this diverse field by engaging with representations of disability across pages, screens, and stages. We will seek to investigate notions of normalcy and difference as they intersect with issues of history, class, race, and gender. As Alice Hall puts it: “[…] disability is not a marginal subject […] it is a central and transformative critical category for thinking about literature and critical theory” (Hall, Alice. Literature and Disability. Routledge, 2014, p.4).