Picador-Guest Professorship for Literature

The University of Leipzig in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service and the Veranstaltungsforum of the Publishing Group Georg von Holtzbrinck initiated the Picador Guest Professorship for Literature at the University of Leipzig aiming at conveying and critically reflecting on Anglo-American Literature.

The ‘democracy’ of language and literature is a key note of the Picador Guest Professorship. This vivid mediation of literature will contribute to distinguish the subject according to international standards and place it among the leading programs for the promotion of Anglo-American Studies in Germany. Authors, screenwriters and critics will be invited; next to recognized and well-known personalities, newcomers and avant-garde writers will be addressed. The Picador Guest Professorship is not only intended to supplement the scientific syllabus of the University of Leipzig but also to interconnect university and city life.

The first Picador Guest Professor, whose tenure extended over the winter semester 2006/07 was the young avant-garde author Tristan Hughes. After British writer James Hopkin (2007), New York-based author John Haskell (2007/08), the American music journalist and cultural critic Chuck Klosterman  have taught in Leipzig. In winter semester 2008/ 2009 the Picador Chair for Literatur was held by the American authoress Nancy Kress. In summer 2009 Catherine Chung took over the Guest Professorship followed by Olen Steinhauer in winter semester 2009/10. Christian Hawkey was the Guest Professor for the summer term 2010 and Nathalie Handal stayed in Leipzig in winter 2010/11 as Picador Guest Professor. Shannon Cain followed as the 10th Picador Guest Professor in Summer 2011.

Current Picador Professor for the winter term 2011/2012 is Porochista Khakpour. Born 1978 in Teheran, Porochista Khakpour was raised  in the Greater Los Angeles Area. She has been awarded fellowships from the John Hopkins University and the Sewanee writers conference. Her debut novel "Sons and other flammable objects"(Grove Press, 2007) a "New York Times "Editor's Choice" was awarded 2007 "California Book Award". Her other writing has appeared among others in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and Poets & Writers. Besides, she has taught creative writing and literature classes at different universities, at last at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Porochista Khakpour will stay in Leipzig for six months to teach two courses at American Studies Leipzig, to contribute to the city´s cultural life, and to work on her next projects.

More information:

Institute for American Studies, Universität Leipzig 
Homepage Porochista Khakpour

Readings
Porochista Khakpour

November 28, 2011, 8 pm in Leipzig

Skala Schauspiel Leipzig, Gottschedstrasse 16,
04109 Leipzig

Flyer  Registration

December 5, 2011, 7 pm in Berlin

English Theatre Berlin,
Fidicinstrasse 40
10965 Berlin

Flyer  Registration