CALL FOR PAPERS 2/2026 - (Un)Reading Literature

Issue 2/2026
(Un)Reading Literature

Submissions: 2026, May 15
Editor: Ksenia Olkusz

The Editors propose to address the topic of “(un)reading literature,” suggesting that the authors and contributors focus on several key areas. One would include reflection relating to the problem of reading — the declining trend in recent decades, its causes and possible alternatives to traditional reading. Another area would be devoted to the analysis of reading phenomena and would include not only statistics or trends, but also social, cultural and psychological aspects of the reading phenomenon.

The Editors also encourage the submission of articles on, among other things, alternative ways of interacting with literature — through listening or viewing (podcasts, audiobooks, film adaptations and digital games), or even physical activity and the engagement of other senses (liberature, interactive literature, VR, social media and literary groups). It is worth considering what the socio-cultural implications of this trend might be. Are there effective strategies or initiatives to increase interest in literature and reading among different social groups?

We encourage that articles from the disciplines represented by the authors also expand the field of research to include such issues as the contemporary publishing market or the sociology of literature. Such topics as self-publishing and vanity-publishing (various forms of self-publishing), literature on the Internet and phenomena such as WattPad, for example.

Last but not least, literary criticism and its transformations will be a subject of reflection in this issue, namely: “high” criticism, professional criticism, criticism related to academia, the opposition (?) of literary awards vs. online reviews, “bookstagram,” blogs/review sites, sponsorship, influencers. The proposed topics open up the possibility of  interdisciplinary considerations, combining the humanities, sociology, psychology and media sciences.

Submissions: zrl@uni.lodz.pl

! Due to the great interest in “free” issues, without a main topic, the Editorial Board has opened a Main Section, which means that in both issues per year there are published texts unrelated to the topics of the Issues, presenting current research results from disciplines of interest. Submissions are accepted on a continuous cycle — according to the order of submissions. Detailed information on text types can be found on the WWW.

Please send your submissions by email only! zrl@uni.lodz.pl