The volume Projecting American Studies: Essays in Theory, Method, and Practice edited by Frank Kelleter and Alexander Starre is out now with Universitätsverlag Winter (Heidelberg). 

Among the contributors are several current members of the JFKI (James Dorson, Winfried Fluck, Martin Lüthe, Frank Kelleter, Florian Sedlmeier, Alexander Starre) as well as numerous other leading American Studies scholars (Klaus Benesch, Laura Bieger, Aleksandra Boss, Barbara Buchenau, Rita Felski, Jens Gurr, Martin Klepper, Ruth Mayer, Heike Paul, Christoph Ribbat, Julia Sattler, Sabine Sielke, Daniel Stein, Babette B. Tischleder, Boris Vormann, Johannes Voelz, Simon Wendt).

From the official book description:

How do theories, methods, and scholarly practices shape major research projects currently underway in American Studies? In twenty original essays, the contributors to ‘Projecting American Studies’ interrogate their ongoing work in various interdisciplinary contexts, shedding light on contemporary Americanist practices, styles, and publics. In keeping with the original meaning of the French term ‘essai’, each contribution is a try, an attempt, an experiment: Several chapters employ a personal tone, others distill their arguments into condensed prose, some use non-linear formats.

All contributors openly reflect on the future of American Studies in its interchange with Literary, Cultural, and Media Studies as well as with History and Political Science. Avoiding the rhetoric of “turns” and paradigm shifts, ‘Projecting American Studies’ aims to replace perennial appeals to do things differently with sustainable ideas for how to do things better.

More info and order information is available on the publisher's website.