Editors: Ruth V. Gross, Peter Beicken & Gernot Wimmer

Publisher: Brill

Theme: The Kafkaesque

The idea of the “Kafkaesque” is so widespread and universal today that it is easy to lose its connection with the works of Franz Kafka. It can be a mood, a description, or a substitute for the uncanny or macabre. Increasingly, it is used in non-literary situations, often by those who have never read a word of Kafka’s prose. In an era increasingly defined by algorithmic opacity, technocratic labyrinths, and the erosion of individual agency, the “Kafkaesque” has evolved beyond a mere literary reference. It now serves as a vital diagnostic tool for understanding the systemic complexities and global crises of the 21st century.

In practice, this tool manifests in diverse ways across the globe: There is, no doubt, a masculine Kafkaesque and a feminine Kafkaesque, a left-wing and a right-wing Kafkaesque, as well as European, American, Asian, and African variations of the term. The Kafkaesque is perhaps the greatest intellectual tool that Kafka’s memory (if not his intention) has provided us.

For the second volume of the Franz Kafka Yearbook, we invite scholarly articles, short essays, and artistic contributions that explore the boundaries, definitions, and global manifestations of the “Kafkaesque” in the 21st century.

Potential topics include:

• The evolution from literary motif to cultural trope
• Regional and global “Kafkaesques” (Asian, African, American, etc.)
• Political appropriations of the term across the spectrum
• Gendered readings: The masculine vs. the feminine Kafkaesque
• The “Kafkaesque” in non-literary media: Film, digital culture, and law
• The tension between Kafka’s original texts and the “memory” of his work

Submission Guidelines

Before submitting, please ensure your full manuscript follows these guidelines:

• Languages: English or German (both are equally welcome).
• Categories & Length:
• Scholarly Articles: 6,000–9,000 words (including footnotes and bibliography).
• Short Essays / Research Notes: 2,000–4,000 words.
• Artistic Submissions: Visual art/photography (max. 5 images), short creative prose, poetry, performance scripts, and theatre excerpts (max. 3,000 words).
• Anonymization: Remove all identifying information from your manuscript to facilitate double-blind peer review.
• Title Page: Include a separate title page with: article title, author name, email address, affiliation, an abstract (50–100 words), and 3–5 keywords.
• Citation Style: Manuscripts must consistently follow the Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed. or later), Notes and Bibliography system.
• File Format: .docx (Unicode font 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing).
• Images: Resolution: 300 dpi. Format: Separate files (.jpg, .png, .tiff). Naming convention: [image number_authorsurname].

Timeline

• Abstract Submission Deadline: February 15, 2027
• Full Manuscript Submission Deadline: May 31, 2027
• Notification of Acceptance / Feedback: July 2027
• Expected Publication: 2028

Contact & Submission

Please submit your abstract and/or manuscript to: Gernot Wimmer (Email: gernot.wimmer@univie.ac.at)

For informal inquiries or questions regarding potential topics and formal requirements prior to submission, please contact Gernot Wimmer at the email address above.