Aylin Dilek Walder, M.A.
Research Assistant
& Assistant Editor for Anglistik: International Journal of English Studies
Englisches Seminar I
Albertus-Magnus-Platz
50923 Köln
Deutschland
Büro: Philosophikum, Raum 1.106
Tel: +49 (0)221/470-2338
E-Mail: aylin.walder@uni-koeln.de
Research Interests
- Postcolonial Studies
- Ecocriticism and Blue Humanities
- Speculative Fiction
- Adaptation
- Television and Film Studies
- Gender and Queer Studies
CV
since 2024
Research Asstsitant for Prof. Dr. Heinz Antor, University of Cologne, Germany.
since 2022
Assistant Editor for Anglistik: International Journal of English Studies
2022 - 2024
Doctoral Researcher (WHK) for Prof. Dr. Heinz Antor, University of Cologne, Germany.
2021
Master of Arts (M.A.) in English Studies and History, University of Cologne, Germany.
2020
Affiliate Student, English Studies, Yeditepe Universitesi, Türkei.
2019
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Englisch Studies, History and Education, University of Cologne, Germany.
2015-2016
Affiliate Student, European Languages, Cultures and Society, University College of London, UK.
PhD Project
The Fantastic Dawn of Affinities: From Alterity to Affinity in Contemporary Anglophone Fantasy
Supervisors:
Prof. Dr. Heinz Antor, Universität zu Köln
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Judith Rauscher, Universität zu Köln
Publications
Editorial
Assistant Editor, Anglistik: International Journal of English Studies
Co-Editor, Inklings e.V. Jahrbuch (41– present).
Co-Editor, "Early Career Researchers Issues XI" gender forum 24.1 (forthcoming).
Articles and Chapters
forthcoming
"Reimagining Human-Nature Relations Through Ecological Interdependencies in N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season." Ecological Inter/Dependencies: Strong Asymmetrical Relations and More-than-Human Worlds. Eds. Jennifer Leetsch and Zeynep Y. Gökce. DeGruyter. (2025)
"Depressed Immortals: Immortality and Ecocriticism in Brandon Sanderson's Elantris (2005)." Inklings-Jahrbuch für Literature und Ästhetik 41 (2025).
Review of Dederichs, Natalie. Atmosfears: The Uncanny Climate of Contemporary Ecofiction. Bielefelf: transcript, 2023. 286 pp. Anglistik: International Journal of English Studies 35.3 (2025): 205-207.
published
"Gothic Nature in Fantasy Fiction: The White Walkers as Dreadful Agents of Nature in Game of Thrones." Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses 89, Special Edition "Ecogothic, Monstrosity, and Climate Emergency." Eds. Imelda Martín Junquera and Cristina Casado Presa (2024). 69-87. DOI: 10.25145/j.recaesin.2024.89.04.
"Cultural Appropriation of Poland’s Fantasy: The Cold War Saga o Wiedźminie Moving into American Mainstream Culture." The Palgrave Handbook of Global Fantasy. Eds. Elana Gomel and Danielle Gurevitch. Palgrave Macmillan, 2023. 289-305. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-26397-2_19.
Reviews
Review of Kuester, Martin. More or Less Educational: Literary Godgames in Anglophone Literature from Chaucer to Atwood. Trier: WVT Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Trier, 2022. 143 pp. Anglistik: International Journal of English Studies 35.1 (2024): 233-35.
Conference Presentations & Lectures
upcoming
"Fantastic Kinship: Affective Belonging in Speculative Fiction." Ringvorlesung "Affekte, Emotionen, Positionen." GeStiK, Universität zu Köln, Germany, 09.01.2025.
presented
"The Negative Sublime: Exploring Eco-Anxieties through the EcoGothic in Fantasy Fiction." Gesellschaft für Fantastikforschung 2024 "Fantastic Climates." Universität Kassel, Germany, 05 – 07. September 2024.
"Reconciliation with Nature: Fantastic Stories of Climate Hope." Distributed/Hybrid Conference "Communicating Climate Hope: Countering Eco-Anxiety and Climate Doomism in Research and Practice" University of British Columbia, Canada and Tilburg University, Netherlands, 15 – 15 August 2024.
"Introducing the Notion of Situated Magic(al) Realism: Hearing the Indigenous Voice in Cameron's Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)." Science Fiction Research Association 2024 Annual Conference "Transitions." University of Tartu, Estonia, 7 – 11 May 2024.
"When We Disregard Nature: Brandon Sanderson's Elantris (2005) and N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season (2015) as Cautionary Tales." Science Fiction Research Association and Gesellschaft für Fantastikforschung 2023 Joined Annual Conference "Disruptive Imaginations." Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, 15. – 19. August 2023.
"Depressed Immortals: Immortality and Ecocriticism in Brandon Sanderson's Elantris (2005)." Inklings Symposium 2023 "Defying Death: Immortality and Rebirth in the Fantastic." Otto von Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Germany, 29. April – 01. May 2023.
Teaching
"Ecocritical Approaches to Speculative Fiction." University of Cologne, WiSe 24/25.
"Religion in Contemporary Anglophone Literature." University of Cologne, WiSe 24/25.
planned
"Ocean Stories from the 19th to 21st Century." University of Cologne, SoSe 25.
"Monsters in Theory and Fiction." University of Cologne, SoSe 25.
Academic Practice
Positions in Academic Associations
Co-editor of the annual proceedings of the Inklings Society e.V.
on the Executive Board (Student Caucus Representative, term 2024-26) of The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts (IAFA)
Further Associations
German Association for Research in the Fantastic (GfF)
Association for Anglophone Postcolonial Studies (GAPS)
Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA)