Abstract
As we all know, cultural studies is characterized by its opposition to (elite) literary studies not only because it points to popular or non-elite literature which is usually not dealt with by literary scholars or more specifically, comparatists, but also because it severely challenges the discipline of comparative literature. But on the other hand, cultural studies complements literary studies with its significant contribution to the reconstruction of a sort of new comparative literature. What were not touched upon by traditional literary scholars are now studied by cultural studies scholars who are at the same time doing comparative studies. In this sense, we should realize that it is not cultural studies that has occupied the domain of comparative literature studies, but rather, it has expanded its traditional domain and inserted some new cultural elements. This paper illustrates how some of the representative Anglo-American comparatists are also doing cultural studies or cultural criticism while engaged in comparative literature studies. The author observes that their interdisciplinary writings have paved the way for effective dialogues between literary studies and cultural studies. Therefore, cultural studies, in deconstructing and subverting the old established discipline of Eurocentric comparative literature, has made positive impact on the reconstruction of a new discipline of comparative literature and world literature. It has also made it possible for the remapping of world literature by inserting in the canon some non-canonical oriental literary works.
First Page
4
Last Page
12
Recommended Citation
Wang, Ning. 2012. "Confronting the Challenge of Cultural Studies: The Future of Comparative Literature." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 32, (5): pp.4-12. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol32/iss5/3
