Animals have played an important role in literature long before the ‘animal turn’. The functions of the animal protagonists are most often a reflection of the animal-human relationship found in our everyday world. J.R.R. Tolkien once said that the desire “to hold communion with other living things” [which explicitly includes animals] (OFS) makes humans transgress the boundaries of the primary world. The realm of the fantastic, insofar as it partakes in the ‘real’, contains likewise animals that often belong to the ‘primary world’ and to the realm of Faëry – as in Lord Dunsany’s The King of Elfland’s Daughter where we have unicorns crossing at dawn from Faëry into our world – and foxes from our world into Faëry, where they are considered ‘otherworldly’ animals.
Fastitocalon invites contributions that investigate the role of animals (real or imaginary) in texts of the fantastic. Possible topics to be covered are the function of animals, the discussion of the anthropological point of view as well as more specifically literary and cultural studies approaches. Thus contributions could discuss the question whether animals function as exemplary representatives of a fantastic world or whether they remain rooted in the primary world and are merely adapted to their new literary environment. The anthropological approach would explore animal characteristics and features that go beyond the limits of the human nature and look at the motivation for transgressing the human-animal divide (e.g. in form of transformations and metamorphoses). This interplay between human culture in general and the use of animals in specific (con-)texts, such as myths and fables would be one possible approach within a cultural-literary framework.
Contributions may focus on individual works, discuss specific developments and transformations, or explore theoretical aspects connected with the topic. Even though the language of the publication is English, we encourage the inclusion and discussion of works in other languages.
Abstracts ca. (300 words) accompanied by a brief biographical note (100-150 words) should be sent in to the editors electronically by 31 October 2015 to:
Essays accepted for inclusion in the volume must range between 6000 and 8000 words and will be due on March 31, 2016. Fastitocalon: Studies in Fantasticism Ancient to Modern is a peer-reviewed journal. Abstracts and/or full papers submitted will be reviewed by the editors and members of the advisory board.
The volume-editors: Oliver Bidlo, Thomas Honegger & Frank Weinreich
Contact Info:
The volume-editors: Oliver Bidlo, Thomas Honegger & Frank Weinreich
Contact Email:
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