CFP: Franz Kafka (1883-1924) and Contemporary Social Critique

Labyrinth: An International Journal for Philosophy, Value Theory and Sociocultural Hermeneutics is preparing a special Section on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of death of Franz Kafka (1883-1924).

Although Kafka's literary works do not contain such explicit social criticism as those of George Orwell or Ray Bradbury, his novels were seen as both a product of modernity and a critique of it, and have had as such a lasting influence on many writers and intellectuals. It is therefore no coincidence that a great number of contemporary philosophers reflected on his work, including Sartre, Camus, Adorno, Arendt, Benjamin, Barthes, Derrida, Deleuze, Guattary, Agamben, to name but a few. In particular, it should be remembered that Kafka's novels were perceived as an implicit criticism of the totalitarian system and were therefore not translated, ignored and even partially banned in Eastern Europe.

The journal seeks papers on past or actual Kafka receptions as well as new readings and discussions dealing with the main topics and key concepts of Kafka's novels, which are still relevant to contemporary social critique. Social critique here means not only criticism of existing social institutions, structures and systems, but also of interpersonal relationships in contemporary society, e.g., loneliness, alienation, anonymity, lack of communication, apathy, denunciation, guilt, responsibility, condemnation and self-condemnation, bureaucracy, social and religious apathy etc.

As Labyrinth is a philosophical journal, philosophical interpretations are preferred, but literary analyses are also welcome if they have a theoretical character.

Researchers working on Kafka are invited to submit a brief abstract until the 18 of February 2024 with a brief biographic information including name, academic affiliation, and main publications. Authors who have already a finished unpublished paper on the mentioned or related topics are welcome to submit it within the abstract in order to help the peer review and the publishing process.

Papers in their final form, i.e., proofread, formatted according to the journal guidelines and print ready, should be submitted no later than the 28 of July 2024. 

As a multilingual journal Labyrinth accepts papers in English, French, and German. For more information about the journal policies and the submission's guidelines please visit: https://www.axiapublishers.com/ojs/index.php/labyrinth/AuthorGuidelines

All abstracts and papers should be sent to labyrinth [at] axiapublishers.com