MFS-Modern Fiction Studies
Scope & Guideline
Illuminating the Future of Fiction Studies
Introduction
Aims and Scopes
- Interrogation of Identity and Subjectivity:
The journal focuses on narratives that explore diverse identities, including race, gender, sexuality, and class, often utilizing intersectional frameworks to analyze how these identities shape literary expression. - Critical Engagement with Social and Political Issues:
MFS publishes works that analyze literature in relation to pressing social and political concerns, such as immigration, neoliberalism, and postcolonialism, highlighting the role of fiction in reflecting and challenging societal norms. - Exploration of Modernist and Contemporary Literary Forms:
The journal emphasizes both modernist texts and contemporary literature, examining how narrative forms and styles evolve in response to cultural and historical contexts. - Theoretical Innovation in Literary Criticism:
MFS encourages the application of new theoretical approaches to literary texts, incorporating perspectives from cognitive science, queer theory, and posthumanism, thus expanding the boundaries of traditional literary criticism. - Transnational and Global Perspectives:
The journal promotes scholarship that considers literature in a global context, addressing transnational narratives and the impact of globalization on literary production and interpretation.
Trending and Emerging
- Intersectionality in Literature:
An increasing number of papers are exploring intersectional identities, examining how race, gender, and sexuality overlap in literary texts, which is crucial for understanding the complexities of character and narrative. - Digital Humanities and Computational Criticism:
There is a notable rise in studies employing digital humanities methodologies, particularly in analyzing online literary communities and the impact of technology on narrative forms and reader engagement. - Environmental and Ecocritical Themes:
Emerging discussions around climate crisis literature and ecocriticism are gaining traction, reflecting a broader societal concern for environmental issues and their representation in modern fiction. - Queer and Trans Narratives:
The journal is increasingly publishing works that focus on queer and trans experiences, highlighting the importance of these identities in contemporary literature and cultural discourse. - Globalization and Transnational Narratives:
Recent issues have seen a surge in articles addressing globalization's impact on literature, exploring how transnational narratives reflect the complexities of migration, diaspora, and cultural exchange.
Declining or Waning
- Traditional Historical Narratives:
There is a noticeable decrease in papers focused on conventional historical narratives, as the journal increasingly favors contemporary issues and innovative narrative forms that challenge linear storytelling. - Purely Formalist Criticism:
The focus on purely formalist approaches has waned, with fewer articles dedicated solely to the analysis of form without considering broader socio-political implications or authorial intent. - Canonical Literary Studies:
The examination of canonical texts in isolation has diminished, suggesting a shift towards more inclusive analyses that incorporate diverse voices and lesser-known authors in the modern literary canon. - Static Gender Roles in Literature:
Works that reinforce static, traditional gender roles are less frequently published, indicating a move towards dynamic explorations of gender fluidity and queer identities. - Homogeneous Cultural Perspectives:
There is a decline in studies that present a singular cultural perspective, as MFS increasingly highlights multicultural and transnational narratives that reflect a more global literary landscape.
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