: Department of English and American Studies

Department of English and American Studies

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Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Department of English and American Studies | About us | Staff / Faculty | Visiting Scholars / Guest Professors

Visiting Scholars / Guest Professors

2025

Georgios Spathas

2024

Andreas Blümel
Anna Kurowicka

2023

Lukas Lammers
Katrin Röder

2022

Gianina Iordachioaia

2021

André Otto

2020

Julie Villegas

2019

Sam McBean
Maria Katharina Wiedlack
Carsten Schinko
Angelika Zirker

2017

Christine Vogt-William

2016

Sarah Heinz
Felix Sprang

2015

Gillian Harkins
John Hawley
Florian Schäfer
Barbara Schmenk

NEWSLETTER

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NEWS

Welcome: We are happy to welcome our new members in the summer term 2025!

Job opportunity: Prof. Breidbach (English Language Education) is looking for a student assistant starting from July 15, 2025. Application deadline April 24, 2025. More info here.

Circle U. Teacher Education Network (TENet): Interview on on why teachers need international exposure and new formats of research-based learning. Read here.

We have moved
Our department and all staff have moved to Dorotheenstr. 28. The access to the building is not barrier-free. If you need help or support, please contact the staff or institute secretariat in advance.

UPCOMING EVENTS

06.05.2025

W.E.B. Du Bois Lectures

6:15–7:45 p.m.

Unter den Linden 6, 2249a

Alexis Salas (University of Arkansas): “Plant Papi Politics: Queer Latinx Artists Re-grounding Nature”

07.05.2025

Dokumentarfilm „We were here. The Untold History of Black Africans in Renaissance Europe“ (2024)

Screening (OMU) und Diskussion mit dem Regisseur Fred Kuwornu

Mi., 7.5.2025

18:00 Uhr

HU Dorotheenstr. 24, Raum 1.101

www.wewereherethefilm.com

Der Dokumentarfilm "We were here" folgt den Spuren schwarzer Menschen in der Kunst und Kultur der Renaissance und legt dabei einen besondere Fokus auf ihre Beiträge und Leistungen in einer Zeit des Wandels. Er hinterfragt damit das etablierte Bild, das schwarze Menschen in der Frühen Neuzeit lediglich als versklavte, verschleppte und unterdrückte Menschen in Europa präsent waren und legt offen, dass dieses Bild selbst das Produkt (oft gezielter) Verfälschungen durch die Nachwelt ist.

07.05.2025

Pessimism: A Panel Discussion on the Cultural Logic of the Worst

with Shona HUnter (Leeds Beckett University), Solvejg Nitzke (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) and Mark Schmitt (HU)

Wed, May 7th 2025

16:00-18:00

HU main building, Unter den Linden 6, room 2249a

Recent years have seen an increasing interest in pessimist philosophy and its diversification, from afropessimism to queer pessimism, antinatalism and eco-pessimism. As a philosophy of time, pessimism points to the lost futures haunting the present – and thus constitutes a provocation for cultural theory and cultural analysis. Using Mark Schmitt’s recent book Spectres of Pessimism: A Cultural Logic of the Worst (Palgrave 2023) as a starting point, the three discussants will share their perspectives on the challenges and potential of pessimist philosophies on their respective areas of expertise, ranging from cultural and literary studies to sociology.

The event is open to all students and university members. Prior registration is not necessary.

Organiser: Prof. Dr. Mark Schmitt (mark.schmitt@hu-berlin.de)

20.05.2025

Humboldt Book Club

Invite

You are cordially invited to the next meeting of the Humboldt Book Club at 6pm on 20 May 2025 in Room 0.03, Dorotheenstraße 28, the premises of the Department of English and American Studies.

Our pick: Temporary by Hilary Leichter

In case anyone is feeling apprehensive about coming along to the Book Club, I would like to once again reiterate that this “club” is an interdepartmental social activity, open to everyone working or studying at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Rest assured, whatever your level of English, it will be enough for you to be part of the group. The atmosphere is very relaxed and people can particpate as much or as little as they wish.

For further details contact eimear.kelly@hu-berlin.de