The domain of Literary Studies encompasses a very wide variety of specialist and interdisciplinary research. This is not confined to specialisms focusing on diverse languages and their literatures, but also includes various approaches, for example cognitive narratology or reception theory. Literary Studies also has interdisciplinary links with other domains, for example history, cultural history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology and the neurosciences, and with domains that are themselves interdisciplinary in orientation, such as cultural studies and urban studies. Literary Studies actively maintains links with these domains and its research culture consequently displays strong similarities with them, as well as its own specific features. Literary Studies has diverse theoretical approaches and research traditions. The research school OSL functions as a network and is responsible for PhD programmes and communication in the domain.
Target groups
Literary Studies is internationally oriented; in addition, it is closely concerned with Dutch literary practices, both professional and public in nature. This is particularly true of its relationship with secondary and tertiary education. There is lively interaction and communication between the domain and differing segments of the Dutch public. This takes the form of books, articles in journals, essays in edited volumes, blogs and participation in public debates.
Products and communication
- Academic publications often take the shape of books and essays in edited volumes, as well as articles in Dutch and international journals. Many of the products are hybrid in nature and target both academic readers and broad groups of interested general readers.
- Dutch-language publications are an important part of the research. English is the most common language in international publications. Other common languages are German, French, Spanish and Italian. Publication in foreign languages is important in certain specialist areas of literary scholarship in these languages.
- Review processes are important in the context of national and international publications, often taking the form of editorial reviews but also peer reviews. That is true of articles in journals, essays in edited volumes and books.
Processes and strategies
- Communication with professionals, but above all with a broad group of interested readers, is important. Researchers communicate by producing hybrid publications (including books), participating in public debates, writing articles in popular periodicals (e.g. weeklies) and literary media, and blogging.
- The most common type of publication is the ‘single-authored publication’. This is especially true of books (monographs), which have a lengthier production time.
Domain-specific aspects of quality and relevance
Hybrid books, participation in public debates, blogs, articles in popular periodicals (e.g. weeklies) and literary media.
Relevance of quantitative indicators for use and marks of recognition
Bibliometric indicators such as citation analyses are not useful, even if based on Google Scholar. That is because many of the publication channels are not indexed and because reference practices are too diverse.