Comparative Literature in the Age of Multiculturalism
Published on 26. January 1995
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-0-8018-5004-2 (ISBN)
Description
In recent years, the idea of multiculturalism has become a powerful - and controversial - influence in a variety of social and cultural territories. In the academic world it has influenced curriculum and scholarship in the humanities, particularly in traditionally Eurocentric disciplines such as comparative literature. The 1993 report "Comparative Literature at the Turn of the Century" - which endorses a multicultural orientation for the discipline - generated an unprecedented level of interest. The third such report on professional standards issued by the American Comparative Literature Association since 1965, it continues to be the subject of lively discussion and debate. At issue is not only the definition of a discipline but also the cultural function of literary study in general. This book brings together the three ACLA reports (issued in 1965, 1975 and 1993), three responses to the latest report presented at the 1993 MLA convention (by K. Anthony Appiah, Mary Louise Pratt and Michael Riffaterre) and 13 additional position papers by prominent scholars in the humanities.
Addressing the future of comparative literature, the essays consider issues such as the discipline's traditional Eurocentrism at a time of expanded multiculturalism, the role of foreign language study and of translation in broadening the scope of critical inquiry, and the crossing and remapping of boundaries between potentially comparable domains of professional expertise.
Addressing the future of comparative literature, the essays consider issues such as the discipline's traditional Eurocentrism at a time of expanded multiculturalism, the role of foreign language study and of translation in broadening the scope of critical inquiry, and the crossing and remapping of boundaries between potentially comparable domains of professional expertise.
Reviews / Votes
Charles Bernheimer closes the 'Preface' to this collection with an appropriate, even if seemingly grand, claim for the success of the book after having outlined how quickly it was assembled: 'The result is a volume that offers an extraordinary range of passionate insights and engaged opinions about the theory and practice at the turn of the century' (xi). Rather than hyperbolic, this indeed is a fitting description for a very important and timely collection, that not only addresses the most pressing issues affecting the discipline of Comparitive Literature, but actually voices a remarkable number of intellectual and political confrontations affecting literary studies in general.-Paulo de Medeiros, College Literature Offers an arresting look at a disipline in the process of reinventing itself in responce to these challenges.
-R. Lane Kauffman, Transculture This compelling book, designed to offer a thorough examination of the identity and goals of comparative literature in the age of multiculturalism, is both informative and insightful.
-Stephane Spoiden, Research in African Literatures This anthology brings together three American Comparative Literature Association reports (1965, 1975, and 1993) with three responses to the latest report at the Modern Language Association convention as well as thirteen position papers from various scholars in the humanities. Sensitive to the Eurocentrism of much comparative literature these essays map out the issues of integrating a serious multiculturalism into the field and how it portends to redefine completely the field. Recommended as a focused anthology on the issues of integrating multiculturalism into academic practice.
-Reader's Review The strength of this collection is that it provides no neat resolution to the current debates about the status of literature, the geographical scope of the field, and methods of reading. Instead it demonstrates how this lack of consensus can be a constructive and revitalizing force that will carry the discipline of comparative literature into the twenty-first century.
-Carrie Tirado Bramen, Multicultural Review
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Baltimore, MD
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8018-5004-2 (9780801850042)
DOI
10.56021/9780801850042
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Charles Bernheimer
Comparative Literature in the Age of Multiculturalism
Book
01/1995
Johns Hopkins University Press
€39.00
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Person
Charles Bernheimer is cochair of the program in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania. His books include 'Flaubert and Kafka: Studies in Psychopoetic Structure' and 'Figures of Ill Repute: Representing Prostitution in Nineteenth-Century France'.