Projects
The forms and functions of back story in the novel Ghent University
Back story consists of events and information situated before the fictive present, dealing with characters, events, or the story itself. This project has two goals: to develop a general theoretical framework through which back story can be analysed and to show the historical variation in the forms and functions of back story.
The Handmaiden’s Balancing Act? The (Re)Presentation of East European Literatures in Weltliteraturgeschichte and Younger ‘World Literary History’ Ghent University
In 1877 the Austro-Hungarian Hugó Meltzl warned his colleagues: “As every unbiased man of letters knows, modern literary history, as generally practiced today, is nothing but an ancilla historiae politicae [‘handmaiden of political history’]”. At the time, Europe was dominated by the five powers of the ‘Vienna System’ (after the 1815 Congress of Vienna): England, France, Prussia, Austria and Russia, whose respective ‘national’ languages, ...
History of spirituality, devotion and mysticism. University of Antwerp
Unraveling the origins, technical history and sciences behind the colouring of textiles, Conste des ververs, 1619-1623. University of Antwerp
European and Global History of Religion KU Leuven
Since my original appointment I reoriented my research from Christian and international labour movements in the twentieth century to long-term global history, ‘decentering’ the European perspective, with religion as main focus. This path-breaking approach allows to question and re-evaluate standard interpretations on a wide range of subject. In this respect I published a historical essay with a decentering perspective on ideas about European ...
Play(s) of Féminitude. The role of female artists in Belgian theatre history 1830-1948 AP Hogeschool Antwerpen
Sabbatical Fredie Floré: Reframing Knoll International: Exploring Intersections of Architecture, Design and Business History KU Leuven
The sabbatical period is primarily focused on research, in particular on preparing two publications and exploring the associated avenues for further research.
a) Knoll International: book project at the intersection of architecture, design and business history
In 2017, together with Cammie McAtee, I published the internationally well-received edited volume The Politics of Furniture (Routledge). The production of this book revealed ...
Sabbatical Jelle Haemers: Medieval voices. A social history of late medieval politics from below (13th-15th centuries) KU Leuven
In this research project I want to listen to the voice of medieval people. Historiography agrees that late medieval politics were not only made 'from above', but also 'from below'. Important political developments in the period between 1250 and 1550, such as the accession of larger groups of people to the government, were effectively achieved through political initiatives of citizens, both men and women. However, it remains unclear what ...