Popular Middle Ages. Narratives and Inventories in Fantasy Franchises (B04)

• Subject Area: German Medieval Studies (Medieval German Literature)
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 438577023

The project examines adaptation practices of medieval narrative and imagery in the most popular media franchises of contemporary fantasy. It examines 1) how medieval inventories are used to create holistic, secondary worlds and 2) how the narrative schemes of adventure and quest are adapted in the different media. It also analyzes 3) what role hybrid neomedieval elements play in the transmedia expansion of fantasy and 4) to what extent the popularity of the designed ‘secondary Middle Ages’ becomes problematic due to political appropriation.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1472: Transformations of the Popular
• Applicant Institution: Universität Siegen
• Project Heads: Dr. Theresa Specht, since 1/2025; Professor Dr. Hans-Rudolf Velten