HT’24 keynote speakers: Tomasz Mizerkiewicz

HT’24 keynote speakers: Tomasz Mizerkiewicz
prof. Tomasz Mizerkiewicz, The Dean of the Institute of Polish Philology, AMU University in Poznań

“Not Only Hyper, Not Only Textual: Relationality in Literary Studies Today”– is the title of a keynote speech prepared by Professor Tomasz Mizerkiewicz, Dean of the Institute of Polish Philology, which is hosting this year’s ACM Hypertext conference.

The speaker will focus on the evolution of the concepts of intertextuality and hypertextuality in literary theory over the past few decades to demonstrate significant changes in our understanding of these two major categories. Professor Mizerkiewicz will highlight how traditional views have been challenged by contemporary theories that emphasize the non-textual dimensions of literature. During the talk, he will also introduce the contributions of leading scholars such as Rita Felski (who proposes interpreting literary connections in the context of actor-network theory, linking literary relations to broader social and material networks), Jane Bennett (a philosopher of new materialism, who reintroduces the concept of “influence” as a dynamic exchange of energy and matter in the process of literary creation), and Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing, whose ecocritical approach questions purely virtual relations and emphasizes the active formation of literary networks in contemporary environments.

Professor Mizerkiewicz’s talk will raise important questions about how theories of literary relationality can interact with the hypertextual thinking present in digital studies, offering new insights into relationality in writing.

The keynote speech, “Not Only Hyper, Not Only Textual: Relationality in Literary Studies Today” will take place on Friday, September 13, at Salon Mickiewicz. See the conference program for details.See the conference program for details