“What is Comparative Literature Today?" by Susan Bassnett
Abstract:
This article examines the current state of Comparative Literature as an academic discipline, its goals, methods, and influence. It examines the history of the discipline and how it has changed over the decades, from its inception as a formal discipline in the nineteenth century to its current focus on intercultural studies of language, literature, and culture. The article examines various theories of Comparative Literature and explores how they can be used to understand literature, culture, and history. It highlights the importance of intercultural studies and their ability to challenge traditional theoretical frameworks. It finally looks at the relevance of Comparative Literature in the contemporary world and suggests that Comparative Literature is better equipped than ever to offer meaningful insight and understanding of the culture in which we live.
Sooner or later, anyone who claims to be working in comparative literature has to try and answer the inevitable question: What is it? The simplest answer is that comparative literature involves the study of texts across cultures, that it is interdisciplinary and that it is concerned with patterns of connection in literature across both time and space. ( Bassnett).
"Everywhere there is connection, everywhere there is illustration," as Matthew Arnold puts it. According to Susan Bassnett, everybody who is interested in books is on the path to comparative literature.
Key Arguments:
1. Comparative literature is a field of study that has shifted and evolved over time.
2. Comparative literature demands a broader understanding of literature and culture than traditional literary study.
3. Comparative literature allows for the examination of text, media, and culture in a global context, rather than within a single national or regional literary tradition.
4. Comparative literature encourages in-depth intertextual analysis, as well as a critical engagement with social, political, and economic issues.
5. Comparative literature is important for understanding the connections between different types of literature, media, and cultural productions.
6. Comparative literature has the potential to produce dialogue, understanding, and collaboration across cultures and disciplines.
Introduction:
This article explores the concept of comparative literature today. It focuses on the importance of a wider context in which to place works of literature, as well as the role of cultural and historical knowledge in comparing texts. It also evaluates recent theoretical approaches to the discipline, discussing the implications of some of the new concepts. Susan Bassnett argues that comparative literature has the potential to be both interdisciplinary and politically engaged, and that an understanding of the cultural and ideological contexts within which texts are produced and received is essential for its development. This article provides an overview of the goals, opportunities and challenges in comparative literature today.
Susan Bassnett is one of the leading figures in the field of Comparative Literature. In her article, “What is Comparative Literature Today?” she provides her insights on what Comparative Literature is and how it has evolved over the years.
In her article, Bassnett defines Comparative Literature as the “study of literature across languages, cultures and periods”. She explains that the aim of Comparative Literature is to “explore the relationships between works of literature from different cultures and periods, as well as the relationships between literature and other forms of expression.” She further elaborates that Comparative Literature is a “way of thinking about literature” and that it is “not limited to the study of language, but also includes the study of other forms of expression, such as music and visual arts.”
Bassnett begins the article by noting the diversity of research topics that Comparative Literature encompasses, citing them as “literatures of all cultures, languages, genres, and periods.” She argues that Comparative Literature is a “true interdiscipline” because it encourages and enables cross-cultural engagement between different theories and practices. This cross-cultural engagement allows scholars to “link up” topics of interest and explore them in ways that would not be possible in a single discipline.
She also discusses the idea that Comparative Literature challenges long-held preconceptions about literature and tradition. By examining literature from a global perspective, scholars are able to engage in “transnational dialogue” that moves beyond a localized idea of “national literature”. In doing so, the interdisciplinarity of Comparative Literature encourages “intertextuality and interculturality” which can contribute to a greater understanding of literature across different cultures.
Bassnett then goes on to discuss the history of Comparative Literature. She explains that the field was initially developed in the 19th century, when the study of literature was dominated by the idea that literature could only be studied in its own language. Comparative Literature sought to challenge this notion by looking at literature in its international context. She explains that Comparative Literature was initially seen as a “marginal field”, but has since grown in popularity and has become a “core discipline” in many universities.
Bassnett then goes on to discuss what Comparative Literature looks like today. She explains that it has become much broader in scope, with a focus on “the relationships between literature and other forms of expression, such as music and visual arts, as well as the relationships between literature and other disciplines, such as sociology and history.” She further explains that Comparative Literature has become more interdisciplinary, with a focus on the connections between literature and other areas of study.
Finally, Bassnett discusses the implications of Comparative Literature for the future. She argues that, as the world becomes more globalized, it is increasingly important to understand the connections between literature from different cultures and periods. She argues that Comparative Literature has the potential to “open up new ways of understanding the world” and to provide “a bridge between cultures, which can help us to better understand and appreciate each other.”
Overall, Susan Bassnett’s article provides an insightful look into the history and current state of Comparative Literature. She clearly explains the evolution of the field, as well as its current applications and potential implications for the future. Her article is an important contribution to the field and serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in Comparative Literature.
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