Conference Report: "Ecocriticism and Ecothriller: Negotiations in Latin America and the Global North"

Under the direction of Prof. Dr. Yasmin Temelli, the conference program placed a clear focus on central questions of ecocriticism: How does humanity “appear” in its relationship to the natural environment? Is humanity portrayed as part of a whole, as a beneficiary, as a disruptive factor, or as a co-actor within complex interconnections? This raises far-reaching implications: Which narrative patterns make environmental destruction visible (or invisible), how are violence and responsibility addressed, and how can the consequences of extractivist logics be classified socially, politically, and ethically? In the numerous presentations and discussions, narrative concepts such as suspense, as well as approaches from the cultural and social sciences such as “Slow Violence” or “Capitalism Gore,” were drawn upon. The ecothriller uniquely combines the creation of suspense with critical analysis.

The symposium concluded on the second day with a bilingual literary event at the Hugendubel bookstore. Through the interplay of the authors’ perspectives, moderation, and translation, the transition from academic discourse to artistic language became particularly palpable: The topics analyzed earlier found a new space for resonance in the reading and discussion. This created an atmosphere that not only offered space for reflection and exchange but also for a kind of shared pause. Further impressions and all details can be found in the complete conference report as a PDF.