Dr. Van Leavenworth

Biography

Van Leavenworth is an Associate Professor in English literature at Umeå University, focusing on the intersections between literature and cultural studies. His research explores narrative poetics and identity formation, particularly through the lenses of intertextuality and adaptation. He has a keen interest in speculative narratives and how they portray the relationships between humans and non-human entities. As a founding member of the Speculative Fiction research group, Leavenworth delves into how genres such as Gothic and science fiction reshape understandings of self and society. His doctoral dissertation and subsequent works critically examine the Gothic genre's ability to reveal the fragility of characters' beliefs and welfare norms. His recent research includes analyzing the role of narrative in shaping perceptions of humanity within media, such as the television series Battlestar Galactica. He has co-authored works examining narrative structures and how they can invite readers to reimagine post-apocalyptic environments. Leavenworth's contributions to the field are marked by his insights into how narrative conventions and genres influence societal perceptions and ecological concerns, making significant connections between fiction and real-world anxieties regarding climate change.

Research Interests