Comparative Literature: Concepts, Its Present Status and New Territories
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON
EXPANDING TERRITORIES: COMPARATIVE LITERATURE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Comparative Literature: Concepts, Its Present status and New Territories
3/30/2010 Government Engineering College, Surat Ankita Khanna
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this paper is to provide researchers interested in the history and evolution of “comparative literature” with a collection of references delineating the evolution of the concept and the development of academic departments dedicated to its study. The paper includes a first section describing the main issues contributing to the “identity crisis” with which studies and departments defining themselves as “comparative” were consistently confronted ever since the term was coined. The paper also offers an overview of the elements that usually confer a “comparative” quality to a literary study, such as interdisciplinarity and multiculturalism, together with a few relevant definitions describing the commonly accepted meaning of the term at a particular point in time. Further it has a sketch of the current status of the concept and of the institutions dedicated to its study. This paper primarily focuses on facts and documents from the European and North American continents. Its main purpose is not to arbitrate the multitude of trends and opinions trying to associate the term with a singular meaning. It merely attempts to provide a systematic perspective of the subject matter.
Page 1 of 8
Comparative Literature: Concepts, Its Present status and New Territories
INTRODUCTION
A work of literature always makes connections. It not only reaches individual readers; but also it invokes other literary works and traditions. It is truly a mechanism that can challenge or embrace scientific or historical knowledge, can be translated into another language or can be transformed into a film. Comparative literature explores this rich tapestry of relationships. It is the study of written texts from more than one
ON
EXPANDING TERRITORIES: COMPARATIVE LITERATURE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Comparative Literature: Concepts, Its Present status and New Territories
3/30/2010 Government Engineering College, Surat Ankita Khanna
ABSTRACT
The main objective of this paper is to provide researchers interested in the history and evolution of “comparative literature” with a collection of references delineating the evolution of the concept and the development of academic departments dedicated to its study. The paper includes a first section describing the main issues contributing to the “identity crisis” with which studies and departments defining themselves as “comparative” were consistently confronted ever since the term was coined. The paper also offers an overview of the elements that usually confer a “comparative” quality to a literary study, such as interdisciplinarity and multiculturalism, together with a few relevant definitions describing the commonly accepted meaning of the term at a particular point in time. Further it has a sketch of the current status of the concept and of the institutions dedicated to its study. This paper primarily focuses on facts and documents from the European and North American continents. Its main purpose is not to arbitrate the multitude of trends and opinions trying to associate the term with a singular meaning. It merely attempts to provide a systematic perspective of the subject matter.
Page 1 of 8
Comparative Literature: Concepts, Its Present status and New Territories
INTRODUCTION
A work of literature always makes connections. It not only reaches individual readers; but also it invokes other literary works and traditions. It is truly a mechanism that can challenge or embrace scientific or historical knowledge, can be translated into another language or can be transformed into a film. Comparative literature explores this rich tapestry of relationships. It is the study of written texts from more than one