The Vitality of Comparative Literature

Abstract

This essay deals with both the crisis of Comparative Literature and the aspects that should be considered in a renewed version of the discipline. In recent years, Comparative Literature has been struggling with newer disciplines, like Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Postcolonial Studies, World Literature, each of them with their new research interests and methodologies. But Comparative Literature has also been quite successful in the integration of these new topics, questions and insights, even if it sometimes did so by abandoning elements that should remain at the core of its business, like multilingualism, a strong historical perspective, and a persistent focus on textual objects and close reading. This article addresses the importance of these three elements, illustrating them with, first, a literary example (Eric Vuillard’s novel 14 juillet) and, second, a literary-historical example that might serve as a possible model of what Comparative Literature may stand for in the coming years (Nicholas Dames, The Chapter).


Note on Editorial Procedures and Ethical Management

The article “The Vitality of Comparative Literature”, authored by two guest editors, Donata Meneghelli and Jan Baetens, is a fundamental contribution to the theme of this issue. To ensure compliance with the journal’s standards of transparency, impartiality, and scientific rigor, as well as with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics, the review process was overseen independently by another editor of this issue, Ângela Fernandes. The authors and reviewers did not have privileged access to any information. The article underwent double blind peer review, including revisions prior to final acceptance and publication.