Selin Beyhan (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- What coping strategies do characters in post-apocalyptic novels use to deal with the challenges of post-apocalyptic settings?

- What emotions do fictional characters display during periods of transition?

- What can we learn from characters in post-apocalyptic narratives?

In this episode, we are delighted to welcome Selin Beyhan from the Department of English Studies at Heidelberg University, to discuss her research on post-apocalyptic fiction, with a particular focus on individual emotions and coping strategies during times of transition. Selin reflects on her academic journey and highlights the timely relevance of her work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased readers’ engagement with themes of emotional resilience and adaptation in literature. She further clarifies the distinction between apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction and explains how her research examines contemporary narratives that mirror modern anxieties. Drawing on a range of novels, including Station Eleven, The Dog Stars, The Book of M, The Beginning at the End, The City Where We Once Lived, and Severance, she explores how characters navigate trauma, uncertainty, and transformation. By bringing psychological theories into her literary analysis, Selin seeks to illuminate the complexity of human emotions amid societal upheaval and ultimately aims to deepen our understanding of individual experiences in post-apocalyptic narratives. Join us as we explore the thin line between fiction and non-fiction in post -apocalyptic storytelling!

Timeline

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Introducing Selin Beyhan and Her Research Topic

(01:49) The Choice of Research Topic and the Impact of the Pandemic

(05:10) Differences Between Apocalyptic Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, and Post-Apocalyptic Dystopia

(07:33) Contemporary Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

(10:00) Contemporary vs. Non-Contemporary Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

(15:30) The Concept of “Empathy”: Past Experiences and Similarity

(19:09) Focusing on Individual Experiences

(21:06) Coping Strategies in Post-Apocalyptic Narratives

(24:15) Character Transformation After Trauma

(27:24) The Gap Between Us and Them in Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

(30:10) Interdisciplinary Approaches in Literary Research: The Application of Psychological Theories

(33:30) Challenges of an Interdisciplinary Approach

(36:09) Transferring Insights from Post-Apocalyptic Fiction to Real Life

(41:12) Personal Reflection: Language Channel on Instagram (Selinguist)

(43:22) Personal Reflection: Balancing Academic and Personal Life

(46:22) Outro

Keywords

Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic Narratives, Coping Strategies, Emotional Resilience, Contemporary Literature, Fiction, Psychological Analysis, Individual Experiences, COVID-19, Literary Studies, Literary Research, English Studies, Empathy, Character Development, Emotions, Coping Strategies, Interdisciplinary Work, Apocalypse, Coping with Change, Transition Times, Modern Anxieties, Station Eleven, The Beginning at the End, The Dog Stars, The City Where We Once Lived, Severance, The Book of M, Us and Them, Heidelberg University, Scientific Podcast, Academic Podcast, HGGS

Dr. Philipp Zehmisch (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- How did the partition between India and Pakistan shape the ambivalent enmity between these cultures?

- What forms of cultural resilience have developed along the border between India and Pakistan?

- How should we approach and make sense of the sensitive issue of “cross-border ethics,” and what key considerations should guide our understanding of it?

In this episode, Dr. Philipp Zehmisch from the Department of Anthropology at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, invites us into his research on ambivalent amnesty in bordering processes, with a particular focus on the complex dynamics between India and Pakistan. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in the Andaman Islands and in Pakistan, Dr. Zehmisch explores how questions of migration, identity, and the long shadow of partition shape everyday lives. He highlights the importance of cultural production and cross-border collaboration in fostering understanding and resilience among communities on both sides of the border. At the same time, he reflects on the challenges posed by social class and the need for a more nuanced approach to addressing persistent inequalities. Join us as explore how borders shape the relationship between “Us and Them” in the context of partition between India and Pakistan!

For Dr. Zehmisch’s academic profile: https://www.sai.uni-heidelberg.de/en/departments-and-branches/anthropology/team/dr-philipp-zehmisch

Timeline

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Introducing Dr. Philipp Zehmisch and His Academic Background

(05:45) Past, Present and Future in the Context of Borders

(10:43) The “Inwards” and “Across” Approaches in Examining the Partition

(16:03) Cultural Production and Cross-Border Collaboration

(19:33) The Role of Music and Religion in Borderlands

(25:13) Social Class and Caste Dynamics in Borderlands

(28:16) The Shift toward Cross-Border Ethics and Human Interaction

(34:02) The Changing Dynamics of “Us and Them” in the Diaspora

(37:38) Methodology: Ethno-Historiography in Anthropology

(41:22) The Role of Oral Histories in State and Border Dynamics

(44:12) Personal Reflections

(48:53) Future Projects

(51:07) Outro

Keywords

Ambivalent Amnesty, Bordering Processes, Borders, India, Pakistan, Partition, Colonialism, South Asia, Anthropology, Migration, Cultural Production, Borderlands, Partition, Social Class, Ethno Historiography, Religion, Islam, Hinduism, Sufism, Music, Cultural Resilience, Nation States, Cross-Border Collaboration, Politics, Border Making, Identity, Human Interaction, Andaman Islands, Diaspora, Inequality, Subalternity, Caste Dynamics, Interdisciplinary Research, Methodology, Us and Them, Social Sciences, Humanities, Heidelberg University, Scientific Podcast, Academic Podcast

Dr. Martin Hofmann (Heidelberg University) in conversation with Sinan Barış Yaşar (HGGS)

- What do old maps tell us about a society’s culture?

- Why do we find these “strange imaginary creatures” in the old East Asian mapmaking tradition?

- How should we read the images on old maps in order to understand them better?

In the first episode of the year 2026, Dr. Martin Hofmann from the Department of Intellectual History at the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies, Heidelberg University, introduces the fields of transcultural studies and intellectual history and explains how these disciplines help us understand cultural perceptions. Dr. Hofmann elaborates on how maps function as a medium for conveying knowledge and how they mirror the epistemic ideals of different cultures. He also touches on the special features of these maps, the “imaginary creatures,” and the role they play in how cultures imagine and interpret the “other.” The conversation further explores how mapmaking practices have evolved over time, why images are so important for cultural history, and what methodological challenges arise when we try to interpret historical images today. Join us as we wander through old maps and meet their imaginary creatures!

Timeline

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Introducing Dr. Martin Hofmann

(02:12) Introduction to Transcultural Studies

(03:48) Understanding Intellectual History

(05:09) Strange Creatures: Imaging and Imagining Other Peoples

(07:13) The Role of Maps in Intellectual History

(10:04) Ethnographic Description of a Culture in Maps

(11:14) Cultural Differences between Maps Making Traditions

(13:06) Imaginary Creatures in East Asian Cartography

(15:35) Historical Perception of Imaginary Creatures

(17:27) Patterns among Different Imaginary Creatures

(19:07) The Evolution of Mapmaking Practices

(21:05) The Disappearance of Imaginary Creatures

(24:00) Interaction between Cultures in Map Making

(25:07) How “Imaginary” are These Creatures?

(27:15) Iconic Turn and The Importance of Images in Cultural History

(29:58) Methodological Considerations in Image Interpretation

(33:05) Diversity of Interpretations within Cultures

(37:29) Conclusion and Future Plans

(41:00) Outro

Keywords

Transcultural Studies, Intellectual History, Cartography, Imaginary Creatures, East Asia, Maps, Cultural Perception, Research, Methodology, Visual Studies, Images, Icons, Iconic Turn, Cultural Interaction, Interdisciplinary Research, Epistemic Ideals, Image Studies, Cultural Narratives, Cultural Perceptions, Worldview, Historical Images, Heidelberg University, Us and Them, Humanities, Social Sciences, HGGS, Academic Podcast, Scientific Podcast