ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 3 – arts
Research quality: There are obvious differences when it comes to the
degree of internationalization. Whereas research in foreign literatures and
area studies to a great extent is published in international publications
(journals, publishing houses), and there are several examples of international
impact, the majority of the research in comparative literature is on
the other hand published in Sweden and predominantly in Swedish – with
notable exceptions, though. In film studies the main tendency in publications
is to publish in Swedish and to a large extent on Swedish subjects.
However, here too there are notable exceptions (se below). There seems to
be a commitment to strengthen international publication in this area.
In comparative literature most of the research is on Swedish subjects,
although there are exceptions – among them a book on Bertolt Brecht.
Contributions to literary theory are mostly on the receptive side (including
textbooks), there are only a few examples of contributions to the
international debate – among them a substantial survey and discussion
of questions related to the writing of global literary history highlighted
in the report and written as a contribution to the impressive Swedish
research project on the writing of the history of world literature, that was
published in four volumes in English. In the field of foreign literatures
there are a number of contributions to the international theoretical
debate published in foreign languages, e.g. contributions to a publication
on ‘modernism’ edited by the English section; a fine essay on questions
concerning representation and fictionality from the French section, and
several contributions from Arab studies to the world literature project
mentioned above.
Research in comparative literature holds the national standard. Area studies
and studies in foreign literatures are strong not only nationally but also
internationally – to mention only two examples: the work of Marianne
Thormählen has been well received in English studies in the English
speaking world; Michael Schoenhals is considered to be among the leading
authorities in the field of the history of the Chinese Communist Party.
Through his publications in English Erik Hedling has managed to establish
himself as an internationally respected researcher in Film Studies. His output
functions as a solid backbone for the research activities in film studies.
Relevance: As mentioned above research in comparative literature in
Sweden has – in particular in recent decades – mostly been on Swedish
subjects and with a view of the Swedish reading public and educational
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