The proposal for edition no. XXVII is a reaction to the new phenomena, happening before our eyes, relating to isolation at the time of the pandemic. The restrictions forced by this extraordinary situation have already found their clear reflection in cultural phenomena – not only in the ever-growing role of the Internet in exchanging information, but also in the creation of new, online forms of work and entertainment (virtual libraries, archives and museums, ‘meet the author’ sessions, concerts and book fairs on the net). A different type of communication also has a bearing on its form and content, shaping new ways of reception.
In the Isolation and communication edition, we intend to examine the eponymous issue also in a wider perspective, less connected to the current events (Covid-19 pandemic), and more to the inspiration which the notions of ‘pandemic’, ‘isolation’ and ‘communication’ can bring for researchers of culture, anthropologists, literature scholars, or linguists. This traumatic experience can be seen as an sort of an impulse, which emphasised specific characteristics of human culture, psychology, existential self-consciousness. It thus encourages us (or even forces us) to look deeper into the ‘person-world’ (also: the world of nature), and ‘person-other people’ relationships.
Some of the new phenomena, which we would like to explore, include:
All of this also speaks to a rising need for a metaphysical perspective ‘in the time of pestilence’ – for the existence of post mortem in contemporary literature.
The editorial team remains open to suggestions of different interpretations of the topic, as long as they are connected to the two fundamental notions of the planned edition: isolation – communication.
Topic applications, together with abstracts, should be sent to us by 15 May 2021.