Sofia Wijkmark, Professor of Comparative Literature
Sofia Wijkmark grew up in Skara, where she studied the humanities programme at upper secondary school. Following graduation, she studied Spanish at the University of Skövde, University of Gothenburg and Universidad de Alcalá, as well as comparative literature and Swedish language at Karlstad University. She completed her PhD in comparative literature at Karlstad University in 2009, and has remained faithful to Värmland ever since.
“My research has two main strands. I have primarily studied various forms of non-realist fiction, ranging from the works of Selma Lagerlöf to contemporary horror and serial killer narratives. Genres such as Gothic fiction, horror and speculative fiction have their roots in folklore and myth, and I’m interested in exploring those connections. I have also delved into concepts like place, nature and the non-human. For example, place and nature have been central themes in projects on the literary history of Värmland and Nordic Gothic. But above all, my focus has been on ecological perspectives in literature. Most recently, I have been examining how fungi are portrayed in fiction in relation to how we understand the boundary between the human and the non-human.”
But why is Sofia Wijkmark researching these themes? The simple answer is that these are areas that interest and fascinate her.
“Humanities research is very important, even though it can be difficult to advocate for it in a society that prioritises measurable outcomes. Literature and other art forms help us understand ourselves and the culture we live in, both historically and in relation to the present. Comparative literature is about critical thinking, but also about knowledge connected to imagination, creativity and the unknown.”
Sofia Wijkmark is currently collaborating with theatre scholars, historians and researchers in subject-specific education, and is part of several interdisciplinary research groups and networks. In her work with other researchers, she views trust as an important foundation that is central to creativity.
“Over the coming years, there will be a strong focus on regional perspectives through the project Värmland (Re)imagined, which is about how literature and history education can use regional literature to shed light on issues of sustainability. I will also be working with Västanå Theatre’s interpretation of Selma Lagerlöf’s works.”
When she is not working, Sofia Wijkmark enjoys spending time with her family and their two dogs, Curtis and Órla, and she loves being out in nature.