Seminar : comparative literature [ LROM2755 ]

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A new question of comparative literature will be analyzed each year. The topic will be selected from one of the subfields of the discipline (comparative poetry, literary and cultural relations, literary theory). The question may potentially be derived from topics students are investigating for their thesis (in the case that enough students' interests overlap in terms of thematic, linguistic, theoretical and/or methodological dimensions).

- Introduce students to the methodologies and principles of the discipline through the analysis of a particular question of comparative literature.
- Provide students with an understanding of the essential structures and challenges of comparative literature and prepare them to undertake their own advanced research in the field of comparative literary studies.
- Encourage students to research questions related to national literature, as well as to expand their knowledge of foreign literature (Europe, Africa, America, Asia).
- Help student defining a research topic (by choosing a body of literature and a consistent methodological framework) and to analyze it using a critical approach and a comparative perspective.
 

The assessment of this seminar consists of two parts:
1) An Ongoing evaluation of the student participation to the seminar.
In this context, will be retain:
a) regular class attendance and participation;
b) participation to a scientific event related to the topic of the seminar.

2) A paper dedicated to a subject and a corpus related to the topic of the seminar. Students are required to respect the following instructions:
a) the paper will be submitted on the first day of the exam session of June (and/of September);
b) two versions of the paper will be submitted: a printed version in the teacher's pigeonhole and an electronic version (PDF) posted on ICampus (tab 'Travaux')
c) the paper will have a length of 8-10 pages (Times New Roman, space between lines: 1.5, margins: 2 cm everywhere).

The final evaluation will take into account the quality of the written expression.

Students will be encouraged to become familiar with the main lines of research in comparative literature as to place their current and future research within this context.
Students are encouraged to contribute to the collective reflection engaged during the seminar, and especially to talk about their readings.
In addition to this active participation, each student will also submit a paper dedicated to a subject and a corpus related to the topic of the seminar.

Literature and Globalization: Globalization represents a main aspect of our contemporary world. The global process has been extensively studied in the political, economic, philosophical and anthropological fields. However, as far as today, literary studies have not really taken into account the measure of this phenomenon. This inadvertence of literary criticism represents a paradox because the contemporary novel, which is produced in a global world, needs to be analyzed within this contemporary global world. Moreover, concepts borrowed from other disciplines, such as interdependence or nomadism, become relevant to the study of literature.

The analysis of the globalization novel is the challenge of the Comparative Literature seminar in 2014-2015. This topic is highly comparative because it transcends the notions of border and nation and represents a very contemporary question which will help students to better understand the world they live in.

Required Reading
Part 1 : Theoretical Reading
A syllabus, including various theoretical texts on the study of globalization and literature, will be available at the DUC in Louvain-la-Neuve.
Part 2 : Novels
1) HALFON Eduardo, Monastère, traduit de l'espagnol (Guatemala) par Albert Bensoussan, Paris, La Table ronde, 2014 (Quai Voltaire), 160 p.
2) ISHIGURO Kazuo, Les Vestiges du jour, traduit de l'anglais par Sophie Mayoux, Paris, Gallimard, 2010 (Folio, n° 5040), 339 p.
3) LAFERRIERE Dany, Je suis un écrivain japonais, Paris, Le Livre de Poche, 2012 (Littérature & Documents), 216 p.

Novels may also be read in the original language, according to the linguistic skills of each student.