Young readers are flooding the halls of book fairs and driving rising sales figures for publishers. Reading is currently experiencing a remarkable renaissance—albeit in forms that differ significantly from traditional notions. Genres such as “Dark Academia” or “Romantasy” shape the reading habits of many young people, while social media plays an increasingly important role in communication about books. These developments often cause irritation within the established literary world.

In his lecture, book scholar Gerhard Lauer examines the dynamics of this “new reading” and demonstrates how profoundly the literary public is currently changing. This involves not only new genres and digital platforms, but also the question of what consequences these developments have for our understanding of literature and culture—and why this new reading often has little in common with reading in school.

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Lauer is a professor of book studies at the Gutenberg Institute for World Literature and Text-Oriented Media at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. 

His research focuses in particular on reading in the digital age. A key area of focus is so-called “social reading,” that is, the communal reading and discussion of books via social platforms. Using specialized methods, he examines the reading habits of young people and arrives at a surprising conclusion: contrary to widespread assumption, young people today read more than ever before.

The lecture offers insights into current developments in reading culture and invites attendees to take a fresh look at the changes in how we engage with literature.

Admission is free; donations are welcome.