Narrative Theory and Cognitive Science: Still a Problematic Relationship?

Join us for a one-day workshop with 9 international, world-leading speakers working at the crossroad between narrative and cognition.

Full program here

More than twenty years have passed since the call for a ‘cognitive revolution’ in narrative theory. Proposals were published for a future ‘cognitive narratology’ and for narrative studies to be integrated into the cognitive scientific agenda, domain, and method. The proposals made quite a splash, raising perplexities and enthusiasm in equal measure. Where are we at today?

How did we score against such foundational promises and perplexities on cognitive approaches to narrative artefacts and narrative cognition? Is the relationship between cognitive science and narrative studies still a ‘problematic’ one, as Marie-Laure Ryan famously called it?

Each speaker will respond to a foundational article, promise, or perplexity picked from a shared basket of selected readings (see programme PDF) in the history of this interdisciplinary field. The audience is encouraged to familiarise a little with the same reading package in advance. We will then collectively assess past achievements and sins while looking at the future. In the closing session, we will evaluate how the NCL can help create a more conducive workspace for research on narrative and cognition.

This hybrid event is brought to you by the Narrative and Cognition Lab in the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities. If you have any queries about the event or the work of the Narrative and Cognition Lab, please contact Marco Bernini.

Zoom details for online attendees will be circulated 24 hours before the start of the event.

This event is free to attend.