CFP: New German Crime Fiction

In recent years, scholars have begun reconsidering the style, purpose, and even international impact of crime fiction. Long considered a low-brow form of entertainment, crime fiction now represents for many researchers a branch of writing that has matured into both a culturally critical and literary genre. In addition to increased scholarly attention to crime fiction in recent years, educators in fields such as history, political science, sociology, anthropology, popular culture studies, and even business and law, have discovered its potential pedagogical applications.

This panel seeks to investigate the scholarly and pedagogical potential of regional or other examples in this boom of new German detective fiction. Presentations can consider a range of approaches, from the pedagogical uses of crime fiction for the German culture classroom to reading crime fiction as a chronicle and/or critique of contemporary German society.

Please send inquiries and abstracts to Lynn Marie Kutch: kutch [at] kutztown.edu, by January 15, 2011.