After all, storytelling - not only a central technique of literature - has always been a much-used means in our society to depict real events and communicate their meaning. Collective narratives promise to provide meaning and orientation. But what happens when there is less rational reflection or argumentation and everything becomes a narrative? When facts become emotionally charged, complex contexts are simplified and reality is pressed into an exciting storyline? The conference at the University of Wuppertal will take a critical look at where narratives reach their limits - and when they become dangerous.

A well-known example of a narrative is the American dream, according to which anyone can go from washing dishes to making a million, or - in a modern interpretation - from a garage to their own tech start-up. For many, this narrative characterises the idea of America as the land of opportunity. "Narratives are powerful - they can connect, explain, manipulate or conceal," says organiser Prof. Dr Matías Martínez from the Centre for Narrative Research at the University of Wuppertal. "Especially in times of fake news, political storytelling and AI-generated texts, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms and effects of narratives," adds co-organiser Prof. Dr Michael Scheffel.

The conference will focus on questions such as: Which social, cultural or media developments have led to the current narrative inflation? How is artificial intelligence changing storytelling? Where are narratives overtaxed as an appropriate form of knowledge - for example in science, business or politics? What distinguishes legitimate narrative strategies from problematic manipulation?

A special focus of the conference is the promotion of young researchers: an interdisciplinary seminar for doctoral students accompanies the conference and brings together young researchers from all over Europe.

Expertise from Wuppertal

The University of Wuppertal's expertise in the research field of literary and non-literary narrative is recognised throughout Europe. Since the founding of the Centre for Narrative Research in 2007, interdisciplinary work has also been carried out here on "reality narratives" - i.e. forms of storytelling that do not serve fiction, but rather the interpretation of real life worlds.

In addition to large Europe-wide collaborative research projects, this also includes practical projects in the region, for example in cooperation with companies, the organisation of public events such as the Poetics Lectureship for Factual Narrative, where well-known authors come to Wuppertal for readings and discussions, and the publication of the digital journal DIEGESIS, which appears twice a year with articles on narrative in all media and contexts. Each issue also focuses on a specific topic.

"Those who are familiar with narratives will not only appreciate good books better, but will also have a better command of the world they live in," emphasises Michael Scheffel. Matías Martínez calls this factuality competence: "If a text or an oral report claims to describe the real world, then, in contrast to fiction, they tell of our reality and not of an imaginary world; I can better assess the extent to which they do this truthfully if I recognise the methods used to tell the story."

At the Centre for Narrative Research at the University of Wuppertal, researchers from different perspectives contribute to generating this knowledge and making it accessible. At the conference, they will be exchanging ideas with colleagues from all over Europe. The conference papers will be published afterwards.