Narrare: Centre for Interdisciplinary Narrative Studies (2014- ) at Tampere University advances the internationally renowned and interdisciplinary work that our team in literary studies and social sciences has been doing for more than two decades. Narrare brings together researchers in literary studies, social sciences, game studies, media and journalism, history, philosophy, education, psychology, health sciences, political science and administrative studies.
Research focus and goals
The centre's essential aim is to develop consistent narrative-theoretical methodology for all disciplines working with narrative.
Our central research areas are:
- interdisciplinary narrative theory and analysis
- convention and invention in narratives
- narrative agency and positioning
- narrative, well-being, and dangers of storytelling.
Narrare works in collaboration with other leading centres for narrative studies in Europe and the United States, promoting joint research projects, publications and researcher exchange, organizing conferences and symposia and providing interdisciplinary doctoral training. We also collaborate with communities and professional groups outside academia, applying narrative-theoretical understanding to practical settings.
Our projects:
- Dr Maria Mäkelä, prof. Samuli Pekkola & prof Jari Stenvall: “Storytelling in Information Systems Development: A Critical Case Study of the Patient Information System Apotti” (INFOSTORY), Emil Aaltonen Foundation 2019–2022. https://projects.tuni.fi/infostory/in-english/.
- Dr Maria Mäkelä (Consortium PI): “Instrumental Narratives: The Limits of Storytelling and New Story-Critical Narrative Theory” (iNARR), Academy of Finland consortium project together with the Universities of Helsinki and Turku 2018–2022. https://instrumentalnarratives.wordpress.com/.
- Prof. Matti Hyvärinen: “Voices of Democracy: The Will of the People by the People and by Their Representatives” (VODE), Academy of Finland project 2017–2021.
- Dr Maria Mäkelä: “Dangers of Narrative: Contemporary Story-Critical Narratology”, Kone Foundation 2017–2020. https://kertomuksenvaarat.wordpress.com/in-english/.
- Prof. Mari Hatavara (Consortium PI): “The Literary in Life: Exploring the Boundaries between Literature and the Everyday”, Academy of Finland consortium project together with the universities of Helsinki and Jyväskylä 2015–2019. https://research.uta.fi/lili/.
- Dr Saija Isomaa: “Darkening Visions: Dystopian Fiction in Literature and Film”, Kone Foundation 2015–2019. https://projects.tuni.fi/dystopiaprojekti/.