SK_52 Positions and Potentials of Comparative Literature

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Péter Hajdu (lecturer), prof. PhDr. Ivo Pospíšil, DrSc. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Ivo Pospíšil, DrSc.
Department of Slavonic Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. PhDr. Jiří Gazda, CSc.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives (in Czech)
The course is designed to map the potential directions of the development of comparative literature studies in the present situation of literary criticism or cultural studies in general. For this purpose it seems necessary to project a general scheme of the history of the discipline and the professional background of the lecturer, with the description of two institutions, in activities of which he is involved, being member of the executive council of International Comparative Literature Association, and managing editor of the journal Neohelicon.
The potentials of the discipline will be discussed in three main directions. Firstly, how can the traditionally developed sub-disciplines continue in the present circumstances? Some rather successful research projects were based on seemingly outdated notions as e.g. genre. In a comparative framework even the analyses of historical novels can result in important insights. And as it seems, some methods or ways of approach of classical structuralism still have their fertility, if applied in a really wide comparative context. Imagology and narratology might be two cases in point.
Secondly, the study of historical and/or literary regions seems to be a new challenge to the comparative approach, or to be a field where it can be usefully applied. It goes without saying that the Central-European studies and the study of the literary heritage of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy are of primary importance for the course.
Thirdly, the recent cultural phenomena and the theories designed to describe them solicit comparatists to new intellectual adventures. Even if some new trends seemed first to put an end to comparative literature, they sometimes poured fresh blood into its veins. postcolonial studies, new cosmopolitanism, ecocriticism, the study of digital literature and the digital medium, or the fresh interest in the new fora for a world literature have their impact on comparative studies. Therefore they will be discussed as well.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: in blocks.
General note: bloková výuka v termínu 31.10-4.11.2011.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 5 blokových přednášek.
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