Dr. Tassos A. Kaplanis holds a BA in (classical, medieval and modern) Greek philology, with major in medieval and modern Greek literature (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 1995; part of the degree was held at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary), an MPhil in medieval Greek literature with specialization in the vernacular (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 1998), and a PhD in early modern Greek literature (Cambridge University, Selwyn College, UK, 2003).
He has previously worked as lexicographer (1994-1997: member of the main editorial team of E. Kriaras, Dictionary of Medieval Greek Vernacular Literature (1100-1669), vol. 14; many articles included in vol. 15), language instructor/teacher of modern Greek to foreigners (1996-1999: International Programme of Greek Language, History and Civilization of the Institute of Balkan Studies, Thessaloniki, Greece; 2001-2002: University of Cambridge, UK; 2003-2004: Study Support Programme, Cross-cultural Lyceum of Thessaloniki), lecturer in modern Greek language and literature (1998-1999: ‘Al. I. Cuza’ University, Iasi, Romania), instructor in modern Greek literature and theory of literature (2003-2004: Postgraduate Programme EPEAEK, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), lecturer in modern Greek literature (2004-2008: Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, University of Cyprus), and assistant Professor of Modern Greek Literature (2008-2014: the Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies of the University of Cyprus). He was elected assistant Professor of Modern Greek Literature at the Department of Medieval and Modern Greek Studies, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in March 2010, but due to the economic crisis his appointment and assumption of duties was delayed (13/12/2012). He has been teaching at the aforementioned Department since September 2014 (as tenured assistant Professor since May 2018).
His research interests include early modern Greek (vernacular) language and literature of the period 12th to early 19th centuries; theory of literature; comparative and interdisciplinary studies. More specifically he has worked and published on: Cypriot and Cretan literary and historiographical production of the 16th and 17th centuries; Periodization and origins of early modern Greek literature; Editorial techniques applied to early modern Greek texts; Poetics, in general, and generic classifications, in particular, from the Renaissance to the present; ‘Pop’ and ‘pulp’ fiction in the same period; Interrelation of modern Greek and Romanian literature in the same period; Gender studies in the same period; Iconological studies and, especially, the construction of the image of the Other and identities before the creation of modern national states; Interrelation of history and literature; comics/graphic novels and their interrelation with literature; and, digital humanities.
