General Overview

Can literature change the world? While evidence on the ability of literature to drive real changes in individual attitudes is limited, the LIT-LAB project explores literature’s potential to reduce prejudices towards groups typically stigmatised in European societies. This includes groups at high risk of discrimination and exclusion, such as trans and racialised people.

Purpose and Significance

The primary goal of LIT-LAB was to measure and evaluate literature's ability to reduce prejudiced attitudes towards stigmatised groups. The project team aimed to determine which approaches, plots, discourses, genres, and character constructions can foster empathy and promote a more open understanding of these groups’ realities.

Implementation Method and Timeline

The project began by collecting texts written about or focused on the target minorities and building a database that analyses various aspects of these works. The project team then established reading laboratories at the participating universities. Volunteer students from these universities participated in book club style sessions. Each session was guided by a researcher and involved group discussions on fundamental aspects of the texts.

Outcomes

Through reading laboratories at four universities involving 188 students, the project confirmed literature's ability to reduce prejudice. Key outcomes include an upcoming edited volume with 16 contributors, two academic papers in preparation, and an original open-access database of 200 literary works addressing trans and migratory issues. The project received extensive media coverage and organised successful events, including a closing seminar with distinguished speakers, enhancing visibility and fostering international collaboration.