The 2026 annual conference of the International DFG Research Training Group 2560, “Baltic Peripeties: Narratives of Reformations, Revolutions and Catastrophes,” examines the history and culture of the Baltic Sea region through the lens of biographical research. It asks how historical turning points resonate in individual lives and what significance such moments assume within biographical narratives. Attention to micro-narratives is not only central to historiography, memory culture, and discourses of regional identity, but also aligns with contemporary approaches in literary studies that explore strategies of life writing. The presentations span a wide chronological and disciplinary range, from the history of the Baltic states to contemporary Scandinavian literature, thereby reflecting the diversity of projects represented within the research training group.
Programme
MONDAY 13 JULY 2026 | ALFRIED KRUPP INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
- 16.00–17.00 Registration & Refreshments
- 17.00 Words of Welcome
Charlotte Steinert, Prof. Dr Annelie Ramsbrock, Prof. Dr Clemens Räthel
Speakers of the Organising Committee, University of Greifswald
17.10–18.00 Festive Opening
Marcus Hoffmann
Alfried Krupp Institute for Advanced Study Greifswald
Prof. Dr Katharina Riedel
Rector of the University of Greifswald
H.E. Alda Vanaga
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Germany
Katrin Moon-Farouk
Consul, Estonian Embassy in Berlin
Bettina Martin
Minister of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
TUESDAY 14 JULY 2026 | ALFRIED KRUPP INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
10.00–11.45 CONSTRUCTING REGIONAL BIOGRAPHIES/ IDENTITIES (SESSION 1)
Prof. Dr Karolina Drozdowska (NTNU Trondheim)
Epistemic Responsibility for the Region: Eastern Europe in Norwegian Literature
Prof. Dr Jörg Hackmann (University of Szczecin)
“Walking on all fours” – Reconstructing Baltic Identities after the Cold War
Prof. Dr James Scott (UEF Joensuu)
Baltic Visionary Regionalism – Resilience in the face of Geopolitical Crisis?
Chair: Charlotte Steinert (University of Greifswald)
Organisers: Josephine Eckert & Charlotte Steinert (both University of Greifswald)
- 11.45–12.15 COFFEE BREAK
12.15–13.15 BIOGRAPHY-BASED HISTORIOGRAPHIES OF THE BALTIC SEA REGION IN THE MIDDLE AGES AND EARLY MODERN PERIOD (SESSION 2)
Benjamin Wallura (FU Berlin)
Theophrastus on the Baltic Sea. Günther Christoph Schelhammer’s Journey to the Isle of Fehmarn
Prof. Dr Anti Selart (University of Tartu)
Baldwin of Aulne’s Misfortunes
Chair & Discussant: Prof. Dr Bernd Roling (FU Berlin)
Organiser: Prof. Dr Cornelia Linde (University of Greifswald)
- 13.15–14.30 LUNCH BREAK
14.30–16.00 BIOGRAPHIES. THE MANY LI(V)ES OF A GENRE (SESSION 3)
Roundtable with Prof. Dr Anne Fuchs (UCD Dublin), Katharina Hacker (Berlin), Prof. Dr Kim Priemel (University of Oslo) & Hanna Rinderle (HU Berlin)
Chairs & Organisers: Prof. Dr Clemens Räthel & Prof. Dr Annelie Ramsbrock (both University of Greifswald)
- 16.00–16.30 COFFEE BREAK
- 16.30–18.00 GUIDED WALK
Prof. Dr Clemens Räthel (University of Greifswald)
- 19.30 JOINT DINNER
Wednesday, 15 JULY 2026 | ALFRIED KRUPP INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
09.30–11.00 MEDIATED LIFE NARRATIVES (SESSION 4)
Prof. Dr Nanci Adler (NIOD Amsterdam)
Re-membering Memorial and the Battle for Memory in Russia
Ieva Šakelaitė (Vilnius University)
Artivism as a Platform for Agonistic Remembering
Hanna Horn (University of Greifswald)
Multilinguality in Platformised Belarusian Migration-Life-Writing
Chair: Claudia Nierste (University of Greifswald)
Organisers: Lea Garcia & Dr Alexander Waszynski (both University of Greifswald)
- 11.00–11.30 COFFEE BREAK
11.30–13.15 PRACTICES OF LIFE WRITING (SESSION 5)
Nina Doejen (BU Wuppertal)
Communication, Crisis, and Compensation: Autofiction as a Social Phenomenon in Contemporary Literature
Kristian Svane (Yale University)
Post-Authenticity in Contemporary Life Writing
Madeline Zimring (UC Berkeley)
Talking Back: Counter-novels and Communication in Scandinavian Reality Fiction
Prof. Dr Anne Fuchs (UCD Dublin)
From Destructive Plasticity to Co-creative Authorship and Choreographed Agency: Hanif Kureishi’s Memoir Shattered
Chairs & Organisers: Louise Curtis (UC Berkeley), Hanna Horn & Tim Senkbeil (both University of Greifswald)
- 13.15–14.30 LUNCH BREAK
14.30–16.00 PHOTOGRAPHY AND BIOGRAPHY (SESSION 6)
Prof. Dr Sigrid Lien (University of Bergen)
Magdalene Norman: Spinster Queerness – A Photo-Autobiography of Life and Love
Tatsiana Varabei (University of Greifswald)
Capturing Landmarks, Framing Monuments: Baroque Architecture of the Former Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Late 19th and Early 20th-Century Photography
Prof. Dr Ewa Manikowska (IS PAN Warsaw)
Photographic Archives Across Borders: The Biography of the Bildersammlung of the Prussian State Library between Germany and Poland
Chairs & Discussants: Prof. Dr Ingvild Folkvord (HU Berlin / NTNU Trondheim) & Prof. Dr Eckhard Schumacher (University of Greifswald)
Organiser:Tatsiana Varabei (University of Greifswald)- 16.00 FAREWELL & END OF CONFERENCE PROGRAMM
For questions please write to baltic-peripetiesuni-greifswaldde
For more information see https://peripeties.uni-greifswald.de/events/