Young Scholars of Transnational Literature (YSoTAL) Network
YSoTAL Network is a new and growing network of early career scholars who share an interest in transnational anglophone literature. Thematically, this kind of literature overlaps with what has been termed postcolonial, migration, and ethnic literature(s), but it is usually written by authors who themselves have a transnational background, and is concerned with the many ways in which the national is transcended even as the characters remain in bound motion between places and cultures.
About the network
The primary goal of the network is to open both digital and physical spaces for networking, project planning and mutual support between young scholars who share a (somewhat broadly determined) field of inquiry. This means that we welcome both those early career scholars who work with the above-mentioned kind of literature actively and directly, but also those who have a keen interest in it or touch upon some of its aspects in their work.
Network Activities
Online Reading Seminars
We organize reading seminars approximately once a month.
Thus far we've read and discussed:
Nov 27, 2025 - Berman, Jessica. "Is the Trans in Transnational the Trans in Transgender?" Modernism/modernity, vol. 24 no. 2, 2017, p. 217-244.
Sept 22, 2025 - Lionnet, Françoise, and Shu-mei Shih. 2005. "Introduction". In Minor Transnationalism, Durham, N.C: Duke University Press
Online Career Development Seminars
Held occasionally. The last one was on Feb 4, 2026:
12:00 - 12:50 - Elevator pitch principles and practice
13:00 - 13:50 - Academic vs. industry CV - tips & tricks + group discussion/plenary questions
14:00 - 15:00 - Grants of interest - compiling a list to serve as reference for the network and basis for future career development events