Aylin Dilek Walder, M.A.
Doctoral Researcher & Assistant for the Editorial Office of Anglistik: International Journal of English Studies
Englisches Seminar I
Albertus-Magnus-Platz
50923 Köln
Deutschland
Büro: Philosophikum, Raum 1.107
Tel: +49 (0)221/470-2819
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
seit 2022
Doctoral Researcher (WHK) for Prof. Dr. Heinz Antor, University of Cologne, Germany.
seit 2022
Assistant for the Editorial Office of Anglistik: International Journal of English Studies
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
Focusing on the negotiation of alterity, my thesis explores the multifaceted representation of intersectionality and liminality within contemporary Anglophone fantasy. In consideration of New Materialism, Queer Studies and class theory, among others, my study demonstrates fantasy's affective contemplation of socio-political issues.
Supervisors:
Prof. Dr. Heinz Antor, Universität zu Köln
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Judith Rauscher, Universität zu Köln
Publications
Editorial
Editorial Office of 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. (2024/25)
"Gothic Nature in Fantasy Fiction: The White Walkers as Dreadful Agents of Nature in Game of Thrones (2011-2019)." Special Edition "The Ecogothic as a Catalyst of Climate Emergency: The Impact of Monstrosity" Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses Ed. Imelda Martín Junquera. (2024)
"Depressed Immortals: Immortality and Ecocriticism in Brandon Sanderson's Elantris (2005)." Inklings-Jahrbuch für Literature und Ästhetik 41 (2024).
published
"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
upcoming
"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.
"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.
"Eco-Terror as Violence against Non-Human Nature and Indigeneity: Fantastic Reflections on the Terracene and Chthulucene in Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Game of Thrones (2011-2019)." International Conference "Ecoterrrorism in Anglophone Media." TU Dortmund, Germany, 11 – 13. December 2024.
presented
"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
GeStik. "Queering Vampires Through Time." University of Cologne, WiSe 24/25.
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)