Globalisierierung in der Zeitgenossischen Luxemburgischen Literatur - Think Global, Act Local

As part of the research project Kulturelle Globalsierung. Kollektivsymboliken in wissenschaftlischen und medialen Globalisierungsdiskursen, initiated by IPSE at the University of Luxembourg, my dissertation shares the opinion that globalization and its effects cannot only be understood and perceived in economics and social sciences. The phenomenon of globalization is influential and international, it has spread throughout all medias and its influences can be found everywhere, for instance in literature. The field of literature becomes the illustration and representation of the effects of globalization. Literature helps to embody abstract constructs as the one of globalization and can thereby illustrate, even explain its manifestations.
Literature is a vehicle to transport new ideas, thoughts and trends as it is always a product of its time. The innovation potential of my dissertation is, that I deal specifically with contemporary Luxembourgish literature, a very small and young national literature. By putting my research focus on collective Luxembourgish, I establish an overview of national identity, seen through the eyes of mainly three different Luxembourgish authors: Roger Manderscheid, Jean Portante and Nico Helminger. These three authors have been chosen because of the language they decided to write in: Luxembourgish, German and French, but also because this project will elaborate which literature tools writers use to manifest and illustrate globalization and its features.
By having three different perspectives and languages used in Luxembourg, one can show the heterogenic but yet identifying influences of globalization. The differentiated work with a specific national literature helps to capture the collective symbols that all Luxembourgish people as well non-Luxembourgish residents share and can recognize as such. By finding the unifying elements, the differences and dissociative factors can be named and analyzed. This Phd project will help to create a clearer view on Luxembourg, its literature scene and its identity in a modern and globalized world.