The project explores the reception of Finnish literature in Central Europe after 1989, with a particular focus on the Czech and Polish contexts. Conducted in collaboration between Charles University and the University of Warsaw, it combines research on literary reception, translation, and cultural transfer with teaching activities.
As part of the visiting professorship, I will teach a course on contemporary Finnish literature for students at Charles University. The course will address topics such as minority representation in literature, including immigrant and LGBTQ+ voices, and introduce students to different approaches to literary analysis, including intertextuality and carnivalization. The research component will focus on how Finnish literary works are interpreted, translated, and discussed in Central Europe, highlighting similarities and differences in Czech and Polish reception.
The project contributes to strengthening academic cooperation and promotes intercultural dialogue, multilingualism, and comparative perspectives on European literature.
What value did you gain from participating in the 4EU+ Visiting Professorship programme?
“Thanks to 4EU+, I am able to transform a long-standing institutional partnership into a deeper collaboration in both research and teaching. The biggest advantage of 4EU+ is that it creates space for meaningful academic cooperation beyond national borders. By bringing together different perspectives on Finnish literature, we can better understand how cultural experiences, languages, and historical contexts shape the way literature is read across Europe.“
How did the multi-university environment influence your research or teaching?
“The 4EU+ Visiting Professorship programme has given me the opportunity to explore Finnish literature through a truly international lens. Bringing together Czech and Polish scholars who study Finnish literature allows us not only to gain deeper insights into Finnish culture and literary traditions, but also to reflect on our own cultural backgrounds and interpretative frameworks. Comparing how the same literary works are read and understood in different Central European contexts often reveals unexpected perspectives and highlights the richness of cross-cultural dialogue. This exchange of viewpoints is one of the most valuable aspects of the programme.“