In German culture and society, the term "heimat," which loosely translates to home or homeland, is tied to ideals of unity and identity in one’s homeland. It’s also tied to controversial ideas such as colonialism and genocide. This contrast is what interested editors of the 13th special issue of “Konturen,“ which is devoted to a critical reassessment of these different conceptions of home and belonging in literature and culture.

“The contributors to our issue are all young, up-and-coming German studies scholars, whether they are graduate students or faculty members at their respective institutions,” said Joscha Klueppel (PhD, German, ’23), editor of this special issue and instructor of German at Weber State University in Utah. “Also, many of the texts in the issue give voices to writings of underrepresented thinkers with valuable contributions to the discourse.”

Jeffrey Librett, head of the German and Scandinavian department at the University of Oregon, founded “Konturen” more than 15 years ago as a German studies journal open to crossing into neighboring fields and dedicated to a theoretically grounded investigation of different kinds of border phenomena. It has also been a place where rising academics can get publishing experience.

This issue includes scholarly articles complemented by powerful personal pieces that give insight into a broad range of considerations about the topic. For example, some contributors wrote about the idea that the term “heimat” would best be abandoned due to its loaded history. Others consider the possible project of pluralizing and revaluing the concept for the purposes of a more open and inclusive society.

“As the editor, it was exciting to work with these young scholars and to see their texts take shape over the course of several months and several drafts,” said Klueppel. “In the end, as an editor, I can come up with an interesting idea, but ultimately the issue is shaped by the contributors and their brilliance.”

Every issue is a collection of invited submissions and calls for papers on the chosen subject, bringing together a diverse set of contributions meant to be accessible to readers behind narrow disciplinary confines.

“’Konturen’ is an important piece of the research landscape in the humanities at UO not only because it enables connections between fields here at the university but also between our faculty and internationally renowned scholars in a variety of disciplines,” said Martin Klebes, associate professor of German and Scandinavian at UO and currently the editor of the journal. “It also has served as a venue for advanced graduate students to gain editing experience and to have the opportunity to contribute to a publication with a distinct profile and a sense of scholarly purpose.”

—By Jenny Brooks, College of Arts and Sciences