Argentine-German teamwork

The Chair of Romance Literatures and Cultures at the University of Passau has been internationally staffed for many years. Researchers from seven different countries, scholarship holders as well as permanent students, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and visiting academics, work together on various projects and topics. Many of them come from Latin America, as the research focus of the chair is Spanish-speaking Romania. Dr Malena Pastoriza and Dr Federico Cortés joined the team on 1 April.

Joint research topics

'We are both very happy to be here in Passau together,' says the couple, who work at the Universidad Nacional de Río Negro in Argentina, Malena Pastoriza as a lecturer at the Chair of Argentine Literature there, Federico Cortés as a postdoc and literary scholar. In April, Malena began a two-year fellowship at the University of Passau, which the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation awards to young, particularly talented and successful junior researchers. This makes her the sixth Humboldt Fellow at the Chair of Romance Literatures and Cultures of Professor Susanne Hartwig. The contact between the young Argentinian and the Passau professor came about at a conference in Passau two years ago, where the question of how disability is dealt with in literature and film was discussed. A topic that interests both of them equally: "Here in Passau, we have been researching images of disability in literature, theatre and film for around ten years. Our overarching umbrella project is called 'Images of Disability', which I lead together with my Spanish colleague Professor Julio Checa (Universidad Carlos III). So far, the focus has been on Europe, especially Spain. We have only occasionally included Latin American countries. I am delighted that in Ms Pastoriza we have been able to recruit a researcher who focuses on Argentina," says Professor Susanne Hartwig.

Teamwork at the chair

Malena Pastoriza summarises her research project in Passau as follows: "I am looking at the representation of disability in Argentinian literature. My aim is to find out how this changes the perception of the topic of disability." She is analysing four major works, including one by an author who has a disability himself. "For him in particular, it is important that he is not seen as a kind of general representative of writers with disabilities, but as an independent individual." In Passau, she wants to work on publications on her research and benefit not only from the extensive range of research opportunities in the university library, but also from the knowledge and experience of the chair team and Professor Hartwig's large national and international network. "This opportunity to exchange ideas with others and participate in the work of the whole team is something I don't have in Argentina," she explains. "The Universidad Nacional de Río Negro is spread across many locations; we don't have a real campus with offices for all employees. We work there much more for ourselves."

Four months in Passau, then Wuppertal

This is also confirmed by her husband Federico Cortés, who completed his doctorate in literature in 2022. He will live and work in Passau for four months as a scholarship holder of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and then move to the University of Wuppertal. He has already completed an exchange semester there with his current wife during his studies. He will return there in September - with a Humboldt Fellowship, just like his wife. The Hartwig Chair has been working with the holder of the Chair of Spanish and French Literature there, Prof Dr Matei Chihaia, on many projects for around ten years.

Federico's research work on ethical issues in literature during the period of political resistance against the dictatorship in Argentina fits in perfectly with the second major thematic focus of the Passau Chair of Romance Literatures and Cultures: Ethics and Literature. "Like the 'Images of Disability' project, this research focus is also concerned with the special function that fictional texts in a wide variety of media fulfil for the respective cultures. In Mr Cortés' project, the focus is on the period after the Argentinian military dictatorship," says Hartwig.

Security in politically uncertain times

For young researchers like Malena and Federico, the current political situation in Argentina means great uncertainty. The funding programmes and financial support they rely on have no guarantees. "We often don't know whether we'll still have a job at the university next month or not." This makes them all the more appreciative of the security they have over the next two years thanks to the scholarships. "We are infinitely grateful for that."

In addition to their work at the university, they are looking forward to exploring the city and the surrounding area during their remaining time together in Passau. "We're not big city people and enjoy the fact that we can reach everything here on foot. We look forward to being here every day."

This text was machine-translated from German.

German text by Nicola Jacobi