Topics in Comparative Literature

Recommended Prerequisites

Previous knowledge in Literary Studies and Studies of Culture.

Teaching Methods

Seminars, preparation of theoretical texts; individual or collective oral presentations to take place in each session. Sharing of work plans on-line to take advantage of their collective oral discussion. Presentation of the scheme of the final research paper to be discussed in the final sessions and handed in as the final work later. 

Learning Outcomes

On the basis of concepts that have been defined and redefined in the epistemological field of Theory of Comparative Literature, this curricular unit aims at clarifying models of thematic approach to this area of Literary Studies, showing the actuality and relevance of specific routes of comparative research for a reevaluation of the literary phenomenon, in accordance to perspectives developed in the framework of the Studies of Culture. With the different topics of the syllabus, students are expected to master the foundations of a scientifically acceptable delimitation of those models and form a critical and individualized analysis on them in order to develop case-studies to apply them to.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction: comparatist identities and dialogues (methodologies, research fields and models of aesthetic theorization). In the past and in the present times.

2. Thematic approaches:

i) Comparative Literature and Identity(ies): Cultural Studies, globalization and postcolonialism;

ii) Comparative Literature and Imagology;

iii) Comparative Literature and Translation Studies;

iv) Comparative Literature and Inter-art Studies.

N.B. The syllabus and bibliography may change depending on teaching staff.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria de Fátima Gil Rodrigues da Silva

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Oral or written assignments to be discussed in class: 40.0%
Research work: 60.0%

Bibliography

Basílio, K. et al. (2007). Concerto das Artes. Lisboa: Campo das Letras.

Bassnett, S. (1995). Comparative Literature. A Critical introduction. Oxford UK & Cambridge USA: Blackwell.

Behdad, A., & Thomas, D. (2011). A Companion to Comparative Literature. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

Buescu, H. C. (2001). Grande Angular. Comparatismo e práticas de comparação. Lisboa: Gulbenkian/FCT.

Buescu, H. et al. (2001). Floresta Encantada: novos caminhos da literatura comparada. Lisboa: Dom Quixote.

Damrosch, D. (2003). What is World Literature? Princeton: PUP.

Domínguez, C. et al. (2015). Introducing Comparative Literature. New Trends and Applications. London and New York: Routledge.

Guillén, C. (2005). Entre lo Uno y lo Diverso. Introducción a la Literatura Comparada (Ayer y hoy).Barcelona: Tusquets Editores.

Saussy, H. (2006). Comparative Literature in an Age of Globalization. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.