Artis Ostups has obtained a doctoral degree (Ph. D.)

We warmly congratulate ILFA UL researcher Artis Ostups on a significant academic achievement – the award of a doctoral degree (PhD) in the humanities. On 12 February 2026, at University of Tartu, he defended his doctoral thesis "Heterogeneity of Historical Time: The Contemporary Latvian Novel in a Comparative Perspective".

This dissertation investigates how contemporary Latvian and Eastern European novels challenge the dominant linear model of historical time, which was central to the 20th century and found its most brutal expression in totalitarian politics. Connecting literary studies with the philosophy of history, author argues that post-communist fiction aligns with recent discussions in philosophy of history that foreground the heterogeneity of time as a current reality. Employing complex narrative and poetic strategies, the novels chosen for analysis make the disruptive experiences of the 20th century vividly present and, by disturbing linear temporality and defying cultural forgetting related to the idea of progress, ethically engage with past victims. 

We take pride in our colleague’s accomplishment and wish him many new discoveries in his future research!