CfA: ERC-funded doctoral position on Chinese fantasy fiction
Subproject: “SINOFANTASY – Escapism in contemporary Chinese fantasy fiction”
The ERC-funded project SINOFANTASY (Starting Grant #101220119, PI Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jessica Imbach) investigates the rise and impact of contemporary Chinese fantasy fiction, which encompasses a wide range of genres such as xuanhuan (Eastern fantasy), qihuan (Western fantasy) and kehuan (science fiction). Once confined to a niche subculture, fantasy fiction has in recent decades become a mainstream cultural force in China; it is not only immensely popular and commercially successful but also politically charged, making it central to current debates about the role of history, culture, technology, and soft power.
Over five years, SINOFANTASY will examine the development of contemporary Chinese fantasy fiction and its relation to key socio-cultural, technological, economic, and political transformations of the postsocialist era. To this end, SINOFANTASY will also study the role of fantasy fandom and transmedia adaptation within China’s highly dynamic, but also politically heavily monitored mediasphere. A central aim of the SINOFANTASY project is to examine how contemporary Chinese fantasy fiction operates not only as a cultural mirror of postsocialist transformations, but also as an active agent in shaping public debate, cultural forms, and social practices. The project thus examines fantasy both as a literary genre and a socio-cultural phenomenon, providing novel insights into how literary and cultural production intersect with social norms, media infrastructures, and power dynamics in contemporary China.
Within this framework, the advertised PhD position will develop an independent research project that centers on the negotiation of escapism in Chinese fantasy fiction. Escapism is a central theme in many fantasy narratives, often manifesting itself as a desire to leave behind family and society, transcend the mortal body, or escape from Earth itself. These tropes are an important reason for the frequent description of fantasy fiction as either a form of naive wish-fulfilment or a commercialized distraction from confronting harsh realities. A key objective of the project is to deepen our understanding of escapism in fantasy, especially in relation to the increased securitization of everyday life, the politicization of the private sphere and intimacy, the negotiation of agency, as well as broader questions of affect and world-building. In addition, the doctoral researcher is expected to also contribute to the collaborative research tasks of the project, in particular the development of the digital Lexicon of Contemporary Chinese Fantasy.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Chinese Studies, Comparative Literature, or a closely related discipline
- Excellent knowledge of modern Chinese and strong academic English skills (C1 level or above)
- Ability to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment
Application documents
- Letter of motivation outlining your interest in SINOFANTASY and relevant experience
- Full academic CV
- One sample of written work (published or unpublished, e.g., section of MA thesis, max. 8,000 words)
- Higher education institution degree relevant to admission (degree transcript/transcript of records, degree certificate)
- Names and contact details of two referees
Application deadline: 21 October 2025
This position is limited to four years. The salary will be determined in accordance with E13 TV-L. The expected start date is no later than January 2026.
How to apply:
Please send your application including supporting documents mentioned above citing the reference number 4514, by 21 October 2025 at the latest. The application should be sent as one PDF to the following address: jessica.imbach[at]sinologie.uni-freiburg.de
For further information, please contact Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jessica Imbach via email jessica.imbach[at]sinologie.uni-freiburg.de.
More information at Universität Freiburg.