What is Comparative Literature Today? | Susan Bassnett | Group Task | MA Sem 4 #departmentofenglish

Summary

This video explores the evolving field of comparative literature, emphasizing its diverse definitions and approaches. It traces the discipline's roots to the 19th century and highlights critical methodologies like deconstruction, translation studies, and post-colonial theory. Citing influential thinkers such as Matthew Arnold and Susan Bassnett, the discussion delves into how comparative literature transcends national and cultural boundaries. The video also addresses challenges within the field, including questions about its object of study, methods of comparison, and the role of translation in shaping literary connections across time and space.

Takeaways

• 📚 Comparative literature is a field that studies texts across cultures, emphasizing the connections between literature across time and space.
• 🌍 Comparative literature emerged in the 19th century and differs from national and world literature.
• 🧠 Scholars in comparative literature focus on relationships between literature and other fields like philosophy, history, and human experience.
• 📖 Matthew Arnold noted that every literature is connected, influencing and illustrating one another.
• 🔄 Postmodernism and other critical theories like deconstruction, orientalism, and translation studies have reshaped approaches to comparative literature.
• 🔍 The field raises questions about the object of study, how to compare literature, and the boundaries between different cultures' literary works.
• 🗣️ The discipline has faced challenges in defining its boundaries, with debates on whether comparative literature is a distinct field or a broader study of literary history.
• 🌐 Comparative literature removes boundaries between cultures, encouraging universal harmony and understanding through the study of great literary works.
• 🏛️ The field's development has been influenced by post-colonial and global perspectives, challenging Western-centric views and including voices from Africa, India, and the Caribbean.
• 📝 Translation studies have become a significant part of comparative literature, emphasizing the role of translation during periods of cultural change and expansion.

Q & A

What is the general definition of comparative literature according to the script?

Comparative literature involves the study of texts across different cultures and examines patterns of connection in literature across time and space.

How has the approach to comparative literature changed over time?

Over time, comparative literature has been influenced by various critical approaches, such as sender-based criticism, translation studies, deconstruction, and orientalism, which have reshaped how literature is studied and analyzed.

What is the simplest answer to the question, 'What is comparative literature?' according to the script?

The simplest answer is that comparative literature is the study of texts across cultures, focusing on the patterns of connection in literature over time and space.

How did Matthew Arnold contribute to the understanding of comparative literature?

Matthew Arnold suggested that 'everywhere there is a connection,' emphasizing that no single literature or event exists in isolation but is interconnected with others, thus advocating for a comparative approach to literature.

What is the relationship between comparative literature and other fields like philosophy and history?

Comparative literature is often studied in relation to other areas of human experience, such as philosophy and history, to better understand the connections between literary works and broader intellectual movements.

How did comparative literature emerge as a field of study?

Comparative literature emerged in the 19th century from the study of national, general, and world literature. It gained recognition as a formal discipline in the late 19th century, particularly in Germany in 1960.

What challenges have scholars faced in defining the scope of comparative literature?

Scholars have debated the object of study in comparative literature, questioning how to define it and what aspects to compare. Some argue there is no universal method for studying comparative literature, while others focus on literary history and thematic connections.

How has postmodernism influenced the study of comparative literature?

Postmodernism has introduced new questions about the purpose and methodology of comparative literature, challenging previous assumptions and pushing scholars to reconsider how and what to compare across different literary traditions.

What role does translation play in comparative literature?

Translation plays a significant role in comparative literature, especially in periods of cultural expansion and renewal. Scholars argue that translation helps bridge cultural differences and allows for cross-cultural comparisons in literary studies.

How has comparative literature contributed to breaking down cultural and linguistic barriers?

Comparative literature removes the borders between national literatures, fostering a deeper understanding of different cultures and promoting a sense of universal harmony in literature.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Comparative Literature and its Modern Relevance

This paragraph introduces comparative literature, highlighting the various ways scholars define it. Despite differing opinions, most agree on its status as a modern literary science. The text mentions critical approaches like sender-based criticism, translation studies, deconstruction, and orientalism, which have influenced comparative literature. Susan Bassnett’s ideas are referenced, emphasizing that comparative literature connects different cultures and literature across time and space. The discussion includes debates on what should be compared and the field's evolving methodologies.

05:03

🌍 Interconnectedness in Literature and Comparative Studies

This section discusses the universal connections in literature, citing Matthew Arnold’s view that every event or piece of literature relates to another. Romanticism's influence is explored, noting Edgar Allan Poe and how English authors learned from Russian writers. Comparative literature is seen as breaking boundaries and promoting harmony across different literatures. The paragraph also touches on the ongoing debate about defining comparative literature and whether it should be considered a separate field of study.

10:24

🌐 Comparative Literature as a Bridge Across Cultures

This paragraph emphasizes how comparative literature transcends cultural boundaries, with scholars like Charles Whistling viewing literature as an integral medium of thought shaped by social, racial, and linguistic factors. The notion of universal harmony through literature is highlighted, with an argument that comparative literature offers broader perspectives, requiring scholars to understand diverse languages and cultures. The paragraph concludes by discussing the impact of critical theories like structuralism, feminism, and psychoanalysis on comparative literature.

15:26

📖 Perspectives from Indian and African Critics in Comparative Literature

This section explores non-Western perspectives on comparative literature, focusing on Indian and African scholars. Indian critics challenge Western-centric ideas, advocating for a more inclusive approach that considers sub-national and minority literatures. African scholars, referencing Hegel, critique Western portrayals of African cultures and highlight the importance of acknowledging black culture in literary studies. The paragraph also discusses the relationship between colonialism, national consciousness, and the development of contemporary literature in formerly colonized nations.

20:27

🌏 Nationalism, Comparative Literature, and Translation Studies

This paragraph discusses the intersection of nationalism and comparative literature, with a focus on Indian scholar Ganesh Devi’s arguments. It highlights how comparative literature developed alongside modern Indian nationalism and how it continues to evolve in non-Western regions. The emergence of translation studies is also covered, emphasizing its role in cultural exchange and the expansion of literary horizons. Translation is seen as crucial during periods of cultural growth, while its importance diminishes when a culture reaches imperial dominance.

25:29

📘 Comparative Literature and its Connection to Translation Studies

The final paragraph delves into how translation studies have developed into a distinct field, yet still complement comparative literature. It suggests that comparative literature functions less as a discipline and more as a branch connected to other areas like intercultural studies. Translation studies provide valuable methodologies that help understand the reception and interpretation of literature across cultures. This connection underscores the fluid and interdisciplinary nature of comparative literature.

Keywords

💡Comparative Literature

Comparative literature is the study of literature across cultures, languages, and historical periods. It involves analyzing connections between texts from different backgrounds, considering patterns of influence and thematic links. In the video, it is mentioned that comparative literature allows scholars to explore literature beyond the boundaries of a single culture, connecting works across time and space.

💡Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold was a 19th-century literary critic who emphasized the interconnectedness of all literature. He is quoted in the video saying, 'everywhere there is a connection,' suggesting that no single literary event or work exists in isolation. His ideas highlight the importance of comparative approaches in literature studies.

💡Deconstruction

Deconstruction is a critical theory method that involves breaking down and analyzing texts to uncover hidden meanings and contradictions. In the context of the video, deconstruction is mentioned as one of the modern approaches that has influenced comparative literature by challenging traditional interpretations of texts and exploring deeper, often contradictory, layers of meaning.

💡Translation Studies

Translation studies focus on the process and theory of translating texts between languages. The video discusses how translation plays a crucial role in comparative literature by bridging cultural gaps and allowing literary works to be analyzed across linguistic boundaries. It mentions that translation studies emerged as a formal discipline in the early 20th century and continues to contribute to comparative literature.

💡Orientalism

Orientalism refers to the Western representation and interpretation of Eastern cultures, often in a stereotyped or exoticized manner. Edward Said's critique of Orientalism is highlighted in the video as an influential perspective that challenges how non-Western cultures are portrayed in literature. This concept is important in comparative literature as it raises questions about cultural bias and the power dynamics in literary interpretation.

💡Postmodernism

Postmodernism is a critical approach that questions established narratives and embraces complexity, ambiguity, and fragmentation. In the video, it is mentioned as a significant influence on comparative literature in the late 20th century, encouraging scholars to move away from rigid definitions and explore diverse, often conflicting, literary interpretations.

💡National Literature

National literature refers to literary works that are closely tied to a specific nation or cultural identity. The video contrasts national literature with comparative literature, explaining how comparative literature expands beyond the limitations of a single nation to explore global connections between texts. The concept of national literature is foundational in understanding how comparative literature evolved as a distinct field.

💡World Literature

World literature is a broader concept than national literature, encompassing literary works from around the world. In the video, it is explained that world literature was a precursor to comparative literature, with scholars like Goethe advocating for the study of literature as a global phenomenon. Comparative literature, in turn, builds on this idea by comparing texts across different cultures and time periods.

💡Feminism

Feminism is a critical approach that examines literature through the lens of gender, focusing on the representation of women and the dynamics of power and inequality. The video mentions feminism as one of the critical theories that have shaped modern comparative literature, contributing to the analysis of texts by highlighting issues related to gender and social justice.

💡Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a theoretical approach rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud, which explores the unconscious motivations behind human behavior and thought. In literature, psychoanalysis is used to interpret characters' inner lives and the symbolic meaning of texts. The video mentions psychoanalysis as one of the modern approaches influencing comparative literature, providing tools for understanding the psychological dimensions of literary works.

Highlights

Comparative literature involves the study of texts across cultures, focusing on the patterns of connection in literature across time and space.

There is a lack of a universal method for comparative literature, with critics still debating what exactly constitutes its object of study.

Comparative literature emerged in the 19th century, derived from national literature and world literature.

Matthew Arnold emphasized the interconnectedness of all literatures, noting that no single literature exists in isolation.

Comparative literature transcends national borders, bringing global literature together and promoting harmony.

Many 20th-century critics have questioned the purpose and boundaries of comparative literature, as it spans multiple disciplines such as philosophy, history, and translation studies.

Comparative literature was established as an academic field in the late 19th century, with its growth particularly notable in Germany and later globally.

Romanticism and other literary movements in the 19th century heavily influenced the development of comparative literature.

Comparative literature challenges the dominance of Western literary traditions by including non-Western voices, like African and Indian critics.

Edward Said’s work on orientalism provided a new perspective for comparative literature, addressing how the West constructs the East.

The growth of national consciousness in various countries, particularly post-colonial nations, has fueled the development of comparative literature.

Comparative literature’s relationship with translation studies is crucial, as translation plays a vital role in cultural exchange and literary analysis.

The rise of modern Indian nationalism coincided with the development of comparative literature in India.

Translation studies became an integral part of comparative literature in the 20th century, particularly during times of cultural expansion and revolution.

In the 20th century, English became the dominant language of international diplomacy, reducing the necessity for translations, unlike other languages.

Transcripts

literature a critical uh introduction

1939 introduction what is a comparative

literature today uh uh Susan

[Music]

abstract there have been a various

definition of the comparative literature

which are greatly uh various from one

scholar to the another but they all

agreed that it is one of the most modern

literary science throughout the past two

and I guess new criticals here is such

as a sender-based criticism translation

study deconstruction and orientalism

have changed approach to literature and

accordingly have had a profound impact

on the work of the comparison a sooner

or later any anyone who claims to the

working in comparative literature has to

try and answer the

invitable question what is it the

simplest and answer is that a

comparative literature involves to the

study of text across a culture that in

recipient and that it is uh considered

with the patterns of connection in

literature across both time and uh space

and Matthew Arnold says every there is a

connection everywhere there is

illustrations and according to the Susan

Basin everybody who is interested in

books looks in the one one of the path

to competitive literature a comparative

analysis you should have already already

revolves around her study of literature

outside the murders of one uh particular

culture that a study of a relation

between literature on the one hand and

other areas of Human Experience such as

a philosophy on the other hand critics

have also related it to history as to

explain to the conversation of the

different literatures and he is a

historical aspect of influence

considering the comparative literature

is the essence of the history of

literature beyond the scope of one

culture or language another argument is

the is their best student of 1960

claimed that competitive literature

could be put a single boundaries of

comparative literature study but she

says that there is no

Bachelor method used for a climbing

critics at the end of the 20th century

in the age of

postmodernism still

with the some question that were posed

more than a country ago some critics are

a question about

about what is the object of the study in

comparative literature how can compare

uh be the object of anything if a

individual literature have again on what

might a comparative cannot be

and how can we compare is to select what

to compare is a competitive literature A

disclaim or it is the simply a field of

a study

uh intro uh introduction the word is a

comparative literature today is a book

written by Susan uh bestnet he said that

the most of the people uh most of the

people do not start with the comparative

literature but they end up with with in

some way or other or generally these

generally we first start reading the

text and then we arrived the comparison

I mean to say we start comparing that

the text with another uh the similarity

and the similarity compared to

literature emerged in 19th century

foreign

from a national literature General

literature and the world literature it

is to the beginning literature compared

in 1960 in Germany and the comparative

literature gota recognizations uh as a

study in 1897 Matthew Arnold is have a

in lecture at the Oxford in 1857 when he

said that everywhere there is a

connection every where there is a

illustration no a single event no single

literature is adapt to Italy uh

companions expert in relation to the

other event to the other related

literature and uh other critics the

Romanticism are there results is

awakened upon uh weekend upper materials

[Music]

[Music]

may be treated back to the Latin French

Spanish and Italian we can see

we can see have a vocation exactly for

Edgar Allan Poe insulin his own writing

considered how many English author

learned from the great Russian writer of

the 19th century another May a compare a

James borrowing and leading to to

Italian uh saviors uh Clarisse let's

let's talk our remains use the Jain Rush

who is turned to remind us of

literature to comparative literature

because the comparative literature

removes the all borders and bring a

nearer to all literature and spread

harmonies

a previous question I discussed the the

great money other question refusal to go

away in this uh in since 1950 we have

been hearing all too frequently about

the Welling to define the compared the

crisis of the competitive literature

another the comparative literature as a

term since uh to the strong patients

both for the against as early uh 1930

crutches argue that the competitive

literature was a known subjective

non-subjective comparatively

distinguished the suggestion that it

might be the scene as a separate

distance he he discussed the definition

of comparative literature as exploration

in the we studies the alternation

development

development developments and the

regrouple uh different different

differences and the theme of and the

literary ideas across the literature

across the literature and the conclude

that there is no study more right than

the research of of this fruit and

another is uh he he suggested that the

proper object of the study should be the

literary history the comparative history

of uh of literature uh or literature is

a history under understood in uh in its

true sense as a complex explanations of

the literary work in compass in the

oldest relationship dispose in the

yeah in the

com says was of the universal literary

history where else could you ever

and

preparations that are it is a real Zone

dietary

and another he uh he argument was that

the terms uh term of competitive

literature was a Futures uh distillance

and the obvious that that is the fact uh

the fact is that the true object of his

study was a literary history and another

another two uh General

for uh for for uh for vagrance

literature in 1887 and 1910 and another

second uh Journal is a studying a

foreign

he he uh we can see uh we can see it

across a different views regarding

comparative literature that he is

against towards the concept of the

comparative literature these show

various comparative literature all

literature difference uh disappear when

readers take up the great works art is a

seen as a as an instrument of a

universal Harmony and the comparison is

a one who uh vehicles to the spread or

spread of that Harmony

and the another other scholar Heath

North American Charles will uh whistling

he's a competitive uh literature program

in the other era other era as a cross

attacked to the working three mice of

the student of competitive literature

was the literature as a distant and

integral medium of thought a common uh

institutional expressions of humanity

this many intend to be the sure by the

social condition of the individual by uh

uh by a racical historical culture and

linguistic influence opportunity and

restrictions

but

irrespective of the age of pro meated by

the common uh needed in the espritation

experiences of the men sprung from the

uh foreign

psychological and uh and philosophically

and Beyond the common law of material

and modes of the individual and the

social humanities

and uh another other other critic he he

is the search of the methodology

argue that the competitive literature

has some kind of the world world

religious and the underlying suggestion

is the culture and another is the

instrument of the universal Harmony and

the comparisons one

leg and foreign say that the theory of

the literature a book that a book that

even more easily significant in in a

comparative literature when it first

appeared in 1949 He suggests that

comparative literature will make higher

Demand on type of linguistic Pro

fiances of our scholar it asks for a

winding uh for perspectives uh super

superiances of a local and pro Vehicles

sentiments not easy to achieve and

another he uh both the state that the

literature is a one is the art and

Humanity are all it is the idealistic

Vision that uh Vision that really erase

in the after month of a major

International crisis

and uh

and another say the he says the the

Great Waves of the critical thought that

the structuralism though to the post uh

structuralism from feminism to

deconstruction from seminology and uh

psychoanalysis uh further

further discussion I could like

thank you

foreign

and also he is good State point out that

the Indian Scholars called Western

literature so regardless of geographical

predictions included towards literature

Which derived from the Grace Grace Roman

um material via Christianity and his

Trump's English French German and is a

sub-national literature and he is a

quite clear that we have a bringing to

comparative literatures in his term

which he use a radical alternative

perspective and revolution of the

discussions of our national literature

according to those in the west are

thinking that

our terms of a great literatures also

majority versus a minority literature in

the Indian perspective also that

suggested now to discuss about the other

another

Colonial critic

is a essay about

culture how suggested instead of a cross

refreshing there is a effective a

production cross cutting across a side

of social significance and

mby wireless of a pro post Colonial

referring there is a effective

productive cross cutting across a site

of social significant areas and

dielectual disciplinary sense of culture

reference

also the African critical and the whole

race there his view also the another

critic argued that the hegels who argued

that African culture was awake in a

contrast to what his claim where higher

more developed a culture and who are

effectively defined by Africa as a

history the now James need and his essay

and now he attacked a taking of the

Hegel theater though

the outstanding effect of a late 20th

century European culture it's is a

ongoing uh

recolizations with a black culture the

mystery may be theater look so long and

a distant of element of a Black Culture

already there in Indian

latent form enter a realization that the

separation between the culture and was

perhaps all along the ones nature but

one of fourth

also uh they say about that Africa India

Caribbean critics have also challenges

The Refuge refusal of a great deal of a

Western literary criticism to accept the

implications of their literary a theory

and culture of policy also the another

critically

literature in the meaning of the world

we have inherited his inner ideology and

he discussed the way in which the emerge

of the English and academic subject of

the 19th century in a quite clear of a

political implications also Eagleton say

about his explanation of the rise of

English

they discuss about some questions like

literature or produce within the

geographical boundaries of England or

the United Kingdom poor literatures

written in English from all of parts of

the world and Earth where those

between the on the literature on one

hand in a popular the mass mass culture

in other hand also they say about that

19 19th century data how English are

immersed from the uh

from the bills to the Virginia wolves

then also

also well so they said about the work of

Edward said the pioneer of the national

of orientalism but he provided many

critics with a new vocabulary say that

the another critic said he say about

their thesis that the Orient the Orient

was a world which later occurred to in

the wide field of the meanings

associations

in that the way this the note

necessarily refer to the real Orient but

the field of surrounding in the world

oh

also uh the another critical

they say about his work at the meat of

the other and the next word the Sinai

the eyes of the best he says about that

the way to China is the land of the fast

effect becoming the traditionally the

image of ultimate and other in the easy

that the challenge approached by the

non-european critics in the

colonization's nation's systematic

process of inventing other cultures has

put that ideology family back on the

agenda by a literary studies

then he say about the growth of the

national uh National English the growth

of the national Consciousness and the

awareness of the need of the move Beyond

of the colonial Legacy and he led of

significantly and

the development of a contemporary

literature is the many part of the world

world even the subject to enter at the

period of the critics in a decay in the

west they why which play the competitive

literature was immersed to that China

Brazil India or many African nations now

they talks about another another author

said Ganesh Devi's argumented

competitive literature in India

coincidence with the rise of a modern

Indian Nationalism is important because

he so to remind us to the origin of the

term comparative literature in a Europe

a term that the first opinions in the

age of a national struggle when the new

boundaries were begin

immersed in the world questions of the

national culture and the national

identity was under discussion throughout

the Europe and the United States

also he says about that comparatively

pleasure it is a begun and development

development outside like Europe and

United States is a breaking a new ground

and there is a great deal to be a London

from following in this development

uh

also

development also what is the what is

this but the comparatively Tracer but on

under another name now then he say about

data how comparative literature are

emerged and call it a new name that is

the what is the translation study is a

contribution to a competitive literature

in the competitive translation study is

a immersed in the 19 early emerge in May

1917 so what is discussion the

translation studies from the translation

is traditionally throughout is a dream

and the driverizations from a psychology

Theory and developmental by the even

johar and the letter uh foreign

category but these assumptions is now

weighing question the work of a scholar

such a Tory

veterans Herman's Lambert and many

others shows that the translation is

especially significance is a moment of

that the great cultural change then

other that even in johar argues that the

extensive translations activity takes

place when a cultural is a period of a

translation when it is expanding when

its needs a renewable when it is a

pre-revolutionary phase then the

translations play a vital part in the

constructs when our culture is actually

established when it is in a

imperialization stays when is believed

believe itself and dominant and

translation is or less important

than any last or conclude party he said

that English becomes the language of

international diplomacy in the 20th

century and also there was a little need

of a translation his relative property

of a 20th century translations into a

English compared with the professional

of translation and many other languages

in

the competitive literature has always

claimed that translation is a

sub-category but is a translation

studies establishes itself humbly is a

subject based in an Intercultural

studies and offering of a methodology in

some regular both in the term

of a theological and receptive work so

comparative literature is opinions less

like a discipline and more like a branch

of the something else

okay