Elisabeth Oberlerchner joined the department in Fall 2019 as a Craig Fellow.
Elisabeth Oberlerchner joined the German Department as a Craig Fellow in Fall 2019. Before coming to the U.S., she studied German and Italian Language/Literature in Austria and in Italy. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Klagenfurt and a Master’s degree from the University of Udine. In her MA thesis on Thomas Mann’s Mario und der Zauberer, she focused on aspects of intercultural communication and on the perception of the ‘other’. At Rutgers, her attention shifted towards the Classical and Romantic period, as well as towards contemporary German/Austrian/Swiss literature. In her dissertation, she looks at the latest publications of Monika Helfer, Anna Baar (both Austrian) and the Swiss author Kim de l’Horizon. She is especially interested in the so-called autofictional writing trend and wants to show in which ways the chosen writers try to shape contemporary literature differently from others. The elements which are considered to be central here are authenticity (fact vs. fiction), dictation and citation, writing scenes and family constellations.
Honors/Awards
Graduate Teaching and Service Award, Spring 2022
Neuse Prize for Best Graduate Essay, Spring 2021
Courses Taught
Elementary German II (102) and German Intensive Review (121)
Spring 2022
Intermediate German II (132) and German Conversation (104)
Fall 2021
Intermediate German I (131) and German for Travel (103)
Spring 2021
Elementary German I (101)
Fall 2020
