CLS 201 - Introduction to Comparative Literary Studies

Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR (students beginning prior to Fall 2024): Meets general academic requirement HU.
Introduction to Comparative Literary Studies is an overview of the field of comparative literature. It introduces students to the history of comparative literature as an academic discipline, the prevalent methodological approaches in the field, and the dominant theories of cultural analysis that comparatists use to interrogate the cultural ecosystems human societies create around the globe. The course then invites students to imagine the future of this ever-evolving discipline: Why and how is comparative literature relevant in the age of globalization? How can the discipline help us negotiate the increasing global social, economic, and political inequalities that are further intensified by our current climate crisis? To what extent can the study of comparative literature provide insights into the resiliency and creativity that we will need as we enter ever-changing natural and artificial environments through our advancements in science and technology?