Reingard M. Nischik
Encyclopedia
Reingard M. Nischik is a German university professor and literary scholar.
(Germany), taking the First State Examination in 1977. From 1978-79 she spent one year of her doctoral studies on a scholarship from the Canadian Government at the University of British Columbia
in Vancouver. In 1980 she obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Cologne with a thesis on single and multiple plotting in English-language literatures. Between 1984 and 1989 Nischik conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Cologne (Germany) and the University of London (UK), on a topic combining narratology and style theory. After having worked as an Assistant Professor at the Chair for Anglo-American Literature at the University of Cologne from 1979 to 1986, Nischik took up a post as a Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Mainz (Germany) from 1988 to 1992. In 1992, Nischik moved to the University of Freiburg (Germany), where she served as an Associate Professor of North American Literature at the Institute of North American Studies, until she became Full Professor of North American Literature at the University of Konstanz
(Germany) in 1994. During the academic year 2009/2010, Nischik was a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Center of Excellence "Cultural Foundations of Integration" at the University of Konstanz, funded by the German Universities Excellence Initiative
.
, the work of Canadian writer Margaret Atwood
, literature and gender
, and literature and the visual media (see “Selected Publications”). Nischik is considered one of the pioneers and leading scholars of Canadian Studies
in Germany and Europe and an internationally leading expert on the works of Margaret Atwood. She is currently focusing specifically on Comparative North American Studies.
Academic career
Nischik studied English and North American Literature as well as Social Sciences at the University of CologneUniversity of Cologne
The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...
(Germany), taking the First State Examination in 1977. From 1978-79 she spent one year of her doctoral studies on a scholarship from the Canadian Government at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in Vancouver. In 1980 she obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Cologne with a thesis on single and multiple plotting in English-language literatures. Between 1984 and 1989 Nischik conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Cologne (Germany) and the University of London (UK), on a topic combining narratology and style theory. After having worked as an Assistant Professor at the Chair for Anglo-American Literature at the University of Cologne from 1979 to 1986, Nischik took up a post as a Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Mainz (Germany) from 1988 to 1992. In 1992, Nischik moved to the University of Freiburg (Germany), where she served as an Associate Professor of North American Literature at the Institute of North American Studies, until she became Full Professor of North American Literature at the University of Konstanz
University of Konstanz
The University of Konstanz is a university in the city of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1966, and the main campus on the Gießberg was opened in 1972. As one of nine German Excellence Universities today University of Konstanz is counted among Germany's most prestigious...
(Germany) in 1994. During the academic year 2009/2010, Nischik was a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Center of Excellence "Cultural Foundations of Integration" at the University of Konstanz, funded by the German Universities Excellence Initiative
German Universities Excellence Initiative
The Excellence Initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Research Foundation aims to promote cutting-edge research and to create outstanding conditions for young scientists at universities, to deepen cooperation between disciplines and institutions, to...
.
Areas of Research
In both her teaching and her numerous publications, Nischik has focused on the literature and culture of the United States and Canada, with special emphasis on narratology, the short storyShort story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
, the work of Canadian writer Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
, literature and gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
, and literature and the visual media (see “Selected Publications”). Nischik is considered one of the pioneers and leading scholars of Canadian Studies
Canadian Studies
Canadian Studies is a Collegiate study of Canadian culture, Canadian languages, literature, Quebec, agriculture, history, and their government and politics. Most universities recommend that students take a double major and French, if not included in the course...
in Germany and Europe and an internationally leading expert on the works of Margaret Atwood. She is currently focusing specifically on Comparative North American Studies.
Selected publications
- Reingard M. Nischik: Engendering Genre: The Works of Margaret Atwood. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, 2009.
- Reingard M. Nischik (ed.): History of Literature in Canada: English-Canadian and French-Canadian. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2008.
- Luise von Flotow & Reingard M. Nischik (eds.): Translating Canada. Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, 2007.
- Reingard M. Nischik (ed.): The Canadian Short Story: Interpretations. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2007.
- Konrad Groß, Wolfgang Klooß, and Reingard M. Nischik, (Hgg.): Kanadische Literaturgeschichte. Stuttgart: J. B. Metzler, 2005.
- Reingard M. Nischik (ed.): American Love Stories. Stuttgart: Reclam, 2003.
- Reingard M. Nischik (ed.): Margaret Atwood: Works and Impact. Rochester, NY: Camden House, 2000.
- Reingard M. Nischik (ed.): New York Fiction. Stuttgart: Reclam, 2000.
- Reingard M. Nischik: Mentalstilistik: Ein Beitrag zu Stiltheorie und Narrativik, dargestellt am Erzählwerk Margaret Atwoods. Tübingen: Narr, 1991.
- Reingard M. Nischik & Robert Kroetsch (eds.): Gaining Ground: European Critics on Canadian Literature. Edmonton, Canada: NeWest, 1985.
- Reingard M. Nischik: Einsträngigkeit und Mehrsträngigkeit der Handlungsführung in literarischen Texten: Dargestellt insbesondere an englischen, amerikanischen und kanadischen Romanen des 20. Jahrhunderts. Tübingen: Narr, 1981.
Awards
Nischik has twice been the recipient of the Margaret Atwood Society Best Book Award (for Margaret Atwood: Works and Impact [2000] and for Margaret Atwood: Engendering Genre [2009]; see “Selected Publications” and http://uottawapress.blogspot.com/2011/01/reingard-nischik-wins-margaret-atwood.html). She has also received numerous scholarships as well as awards for her teaching (“Landeslehrpreis”; State of Baden-Württemberg Teaching Award 2002).Interviews
- Reingard Nischik, winner of 2010 Margaret Atwood Society 'Best Book' Award: An Interview by Hildegard Nagler (June 28, 2010) http://uottawapress.blogspot.com/2011/01/interview-with-reingard-nischik-winner.html
- “No Canadian Should Ever Be Surprised Again”: An Interview with Reingard Nischik (September 30, 2009) by Sarah Banting http://www.canlit.ca/interviews.php?interview=19
Media
- “No Canadian Should Ever Be Surprised Again”: An Interview with Reingard Nischik (September 30, 2009) by Sarah Banting http://www.canlit.ca/interviews.php?interview=19
- Reingard M. Nischik at the 50th Anniversary Gala of Canadian Literature 2009 http://vimeo.com/12408483
Links
- Reingard M. Nischik on the Homepage of the University of Konstanz http://www.litwiss.uni-konstanz.de/nischik
- Homepage of the Association of Canadian Studies in German-speaking Countries http://www.kanada-studien.de
- Homepage of the German Association of American Studies http://www.dgfa.de
- Homepage of the Margaret Atwood Society http://themargaretatwoodsociety.wordpress.com/