The Journal of Literary Theory is an international forum for debate in literary theory. JLT takes an interdisciplinary approach and is open to a broad variety of theories and methods, promoting their study, research, and development.

The Journal of Literary Theory reflects the diversity of approaches put forward in literary theory. It is meant to be a platform for controversial debate and dialogue. The Journal of Literary Theory has an interdisciplinary orientation. It reaches out to disciplines dealing with theoretical foundations of the study of literature as well as to related fields of research such as musicology, art theory, and film studies insofar as these are concerned with the analysis or interpretation of aesthetic objects.

Above all, the journal aims to publish work on fundamental issues in methodology and the construction of theories and concepts, as well as articles on particular literary theories. Case studies, i.e. studies on specific authors, works, or problems of literary history, are accepted only if they adopt a predominantly systematic perspective, contribute to the reconstruction of the history of literary theory, or pursue innovative methods. While most issues of the print version concentrate on a special theme, independent articles are also welcome. Moreover, the Journal of Literary Theory contains work reviewing and outlining trends of theoretical debates in literary theory and related disciplines.

The print version of the Journal of Literary Theory is published twice a year; each issue contains contributions in both German and English. All articles will be accompanied by an English abstract of about two pages. Submissions are selected in a blind review process and accepted for publication by an international advisory board.

The printed Journal of Literary Theory is accompanied by the website JLTonline, where reviews, conference reports, calls for papers, and abstracts of all articles, as well as selected full-text articles from the printed journal are published.