Thought in Motion:Helena Buescu's The Experience of the Uncommon and Good Neighborhood:Comparative Literature and World Literature

An analysis of Helena Buescu's book The Experience of the Uncommon and Good Neighborhood:Comparative Literature and World Literature,published in Portuguese by Porto Editora,is undertaken as the best way of introducing her work to an international readership.A pride of place is given to the broadening of the concept of world literature as well as to the importance of translation.

Whither East-West Comparative Literature? One Recent Answer from China

Comparative literature,as a discipline,has been in selfdoubt and crisis since its birth.Various scholars give different answers to its tendency and future.With the growth of East-West comparative literature research in East Asia,Chinese School of Comparative Literature proposed its own answer to it.In response to James St.André’s review essay'Whither East-West Comparative Literature?Two Recent Answers from the U.S.',this paper focuses on a new answer from Cao Shunqing’s work The Variation Theory of Comparative Literature,aiming to explore the two focuses of this new platform:one is the heterogeneity,and the other is the variation,which are different from French comparatism based on influences and American part based on analogies.On this basis this article tries to have a dialogue with imagology study of variation theory and sinicization of Western literary theory in Cao’s works.By highlighting the heterogeneity and variation,Chinese scholars seek to promote crosscivilization communication based on maintaining and developing the uniqueness of different literatures and civilizations,thus building a harmonious world without uniformity.

Comparative Literature Studies in China:From Seeking Homogeneity to Heterogeneity

Variation theory is one of the very few ideas put forward by a Chinese comparatist.It indicates that comparative literature,especially Chinese-Western comparative literature studies no longer merely seeks homogeneity.It is also characterized by seeking heterogeneity,for Chinese literature and Western literature belong to two entirely different cultural backgrounds.In this sense,homogeneity is only relative,while heterogeneity is absolute.In this way,the variation theory will point to a new orientation for current international comparative literature studies which is viewed as being in a crisis.

Introduction:Comparative Literature beyond Eurocentrism

This introductory essay discusses the Eurocentrism of Comparative Literature and argues that as an effect of the structures of the modern humanities,thestudy of non-European literatures has been mostly consigned to area studies and not literary studies departments at universities Therefore,despite the efforts to overcome this condition of the field,including the rise of World Literature since the turn of the 21st century,scholarship has reproduced the status quo to the extent that World Literature also remainsa largely Eurocentricproject.We argue that revisionist efforts have so far operated within the European theoretical space and referred toa limited number of languages.The essays collected in the present issue address this problem and propose diverse solutions for overcoming the Eurocentrism of the discipline.

Cristina Campo, the Aristocrat of Modern Literature: On Autobiographical Instance in Her Literary Work

In the present article,the attention is focused on autorepresentational image that can be derived from Cristina Campo’s literary language,while analyzing at the same time its genesis,given finalities and reception.It is what can be deduced in filigrain from essayistic-critical writings in The Unforgivable Ones(Gli imperdonabili)and Under a False Name(Sotto falso nome),as well as from collections of letters and illuminating lyrical motifs,based on which it will be demonstrated that analogous themes are associated to various literary genres on grounds of principle of inter-genre contamination.By illustrating the founding postulates of autopoetic reflections,the intention is to ulteriorly determine their collocation within the frame of cultural history.To veiled autobiographism contributes pseudonymical practice,as well as subsequent stylistic devices,through which modernistic aspects are highlighted.The autobiographical narration in The Golden Walnut(La noce d’oro),short story-fairy tale of aesthetic timbre frequently infused with figural tropism,comprises a literary mixture of rievocation and mythography,relying on anthropological premises that are speculatively articulated.

Comparative Studies Between Chinese and Foreign Climate Change Fiction--Taking Liu Cixin and Margaret Atwood for Example

As the global climate situation worsens and more scholars become aware of the existence and necessity of the climatic fiction,the shift in climate change writing not only connects the humanities with the natural sciences,but also raises the public eye to a global perspective.With the purpose of humanistic care,Chinese and foreign novelists have captured the political contradictions and scientific and technological discussions caused by climate change,and created a large number of science fiction novels with climate change as the background.Chinese writer Liu Cixin and Canadian writer Margaret Atwood have used climate change as a background to write science fiction novels,expressing concerns about the environmental impact of climate change on human survival,and drawing human attention to climate change by comparing the similarities and differences between the two climate change writings.

Comparative World Literature aas a Tool to Reconsider World Literature

In this interview,Helena Carvalhao Buescu develops her unique approach to comparative world literature,as she has proposed to reframe the concept.Within the scope of her approach,translation is given a new place in comparative literature,widening the horizons of literary experience.

A Brief Analysis on the Chinese Translation of Harry Potter Series:Gains and Losses

Modern British novelist Ms J.K.Rowling’sHarry Potter series have aroused world-wide“magic-mania”from the beginning of this 21st century.Although being defined as children’s literature,theHarry Potter series have gained huge popularity among people of all ages and all trades,and won various literary awards as well,including British Book Awards,Carnegie Medal and so on1.This series of novels has been translated into many languages,causing countless teenagers and adults dreaming of an Admission Letter from a Hogwards owl.In China,the Chinese version published by People's Literature Publishing House is most Chinese readers’first set of“magic books”.Its translation has successful and splendid wordings,while sometimes there is still room for improvement.

What Isat Stake in Comparing the Literatures?

This paper will present and discuss a few questions raised in David Damrosch's Comparing the Literatures:Literary Studies in a Global Age,a book that,divided into chapters based on some selected keywords,develops relevant thematic nuclei,bringing to the fore literary authors,critics,and theorists.

Longman and Norton:The Anthologies of World Literature and the Effects on the Literary Landscapes

By establishing a critical dialogue with the observations of David Damrosch in Comparing the Literatures:Literary Studies in a Global Age concerning the challenges posed to Comparatism by the current state of the discipline,the question that we will address in the present work is,above all,a position on what it means to make a comparative study in a scenario marked by the reemergence of the phenomenon of world literature in literary studies.After directing our attention to The Longman Anthology of World Literature and The Norton Anthology of World Literature,we were able to see how both still describe an unequal system of legitimation and aesthetic configuration based on a Eurocentric division between the"inside"and the"outside."And it is precisely in the ethical and political implications of this process of opening"'to the world that lies our proposal for approaching world literature.

Current Research Situations,Problems and Recommendations of Land Use Structure and Layout Optimization

Land is the foundation for human survival and development,and all human social and economic activities are inseparable from the land as a space carrier.With the continuous development of China's social economy,China is facing new social development needs such as urban-rural integration and rural revitalization.At the same time,China starts to attach great importance to ecology and has proposed the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.In this situation,the rational use of land resources,the optimization of land use structure and layout are also facing new challenges and problems,and more comprehensive consideration is required to make relevant optimization.Using the method of literature comparative analysis,from the conceptual connotation,basic theory,method model,and specific practice of land use structure and layout optimization,this paper analyzed and summarized the current research situations and problems,and finally came up with recommendations for the future research.

Comparative Mobilities

This essay explores recent incursions into comparative modalities and highlights how global comparative literature better reflects the ways in which borders and mobility have become definingelementsof the21stcentury.However,thehumanities remainunderattack.Recent openings towards decolonizing the curriculum and strengtheningsynergies between various social justice approaches may prove fruitfulin coordinating defenses.Todayconomic and historical circumstances are such that it has become increasingly hard to think of literary traditions in monolithic terms since globalization has dramatically transformed the circulation of literary works In our understanding,a comparativist is not necessarily invested either in demonstrating the intrinsic connections between cultural or literary objects as traditional practitioners of comparative literature have been,or committed to disclosing incommensurable differences,as postcolonial comparativists have been Instead,the comparative frame of mind is defined by the fundamental insight that any cultural product or production is inherently heterogeneous and hence requires no external object of comparison Put otherwise,a comparative frame of mind does not require the co-presence of two or more cultural or literary archives in practicing comparative literature,for any single object can be read in relation to,oreven against,itsowncontext.Likewise,languagesarenot,andshould notbeconsidered monolithic entities Rather,they are historical containers,mobile vessels that transport perpetually evolving references and symbols across borders,the portals and vectors that allow for multi-dimensional cultural and linguistic expression.We therefore argue that the persistent privileging of multi-lingual fluency as the raison d'etre of comparative literature needs to be relinquished,and that instead one needs to embrace the idea that one can bea comparatist withinasingle language.In other words,we argue that comparison is as relevant within diverse national traditions as it is between them.

An interview with Professor Jonathan Locke Hart

Professor Jonathan Locke Hart answers our questions about Comparative Literature in Canada,Canadian indigenous literary traditions,Shakespeare,and the dominance of American academia,and the English language.He refers to a wide range of texts and scholars,his personal experience as a poet and scholar,and comments on the potential future of our shared disciplines.

后世俗视域中的文学、艺术和宗教——第十三届“神学与人文学”暑期国际研讨班综述

2017年8月18日至20日,由中国人民大学文学院和中国人民大学基督教文化研究所主办,河南大学协办的第十三届'神学与人文学'暑期国际研讨班在河南开封隆重举行。本届暑期国际研讨班同时作为中国比较文学学会第十二届年会的一个圆桌论坛——'比较文学与宗教研究',来自以色列特拉维夫大学、美国夏威夷大学、台湾辅仁大学、香港中文大学、香港汉语基督教文化研究所以及中国人民大学等高校和研究机构的30多位国内外学者发表主题演讲,并展开了热烈而深入的学术对话。

Lyric Poem as Representation： From Plato to the New Criticism

This essay treats the understanding of poetry, especially lyric poetry, as representation. The theme is developed partly as a historical survey, from the Classical Age to Romanticism and to Modernism, and through the history of aesthetics in Western terms. It offers critical scrutiny with the intention to explore a more justifiable theory of representation. Hopefully it may help to understand lyric poetry in historical contexts from Plato and Aristotle＇s imitation theories, to Beardsley＇s theory of illocutionary action and New Criticism. It is the image in lyric poetry that accounts for human action＇s being represented. Poetic beauty is an illusionary reality, as that in painting, and the role of image has been widely appreciated in producing this beauty as verbal icon. Finally, I mention the connection between Western theorizing of poetry as representation and Chinese poetry and poetics in general. We see the possibility that the importance of lyric poetry as representation can encourage comparative literature and world literature, and a general theory of representation. These might be informative in Chinese literary studies, from a theoretical point of view.

Comparing“West”and“Rest”:Beyond Eurocentrism?

From different perspectives,Shu-meiShih,Rey Chow,and Revathi Krishnaswamy have accused Comparative Literature of being inherently Eurocentric in that the comparative studyofnon-European/Western literatures continues being steered by European/Western paradigms.In what follows I briefly outline their respective positions,and argue that over the past few decades at least some attempts have been made to move beyond Eurocentrism.

Comparing and Analyzing Two Stories from Iran and China （Khotan）

For the analysis in this essay, I have chosen the tale of Siavash and Sudabeh from the Book of Kings （Shahnameh） in Persian literature and Kunda-avaddna from Chinese （Khotanese） literature. These stories have full structural and narrative pattern despite their apparent simplicity and they can be studied and evaluated as narratological theories. The pattern of Todorov shows that these stories have accurate narrative logic; of course, narrative similarity of two stories may originate from common collective unconscious mind of these tribes. Anyway, these stories have common main and sub propositions with titles of love, conspiracy, refusal, trial for finding truth, loyalty of the prince to father etc. In addition to common propositions, actions of violation, change and punishment which are emphasized by Todorov are found in these stories. The variable action dominates but main core of actions is disloyalty of woman to her husband and falling in love with the prince finally leading to her punishment. These two stories were analyzed according to the Todorov＇s narrative analysis model. In both stories, you can find the same major and minor premise and proposition. That is, all events occur around the three characters （King, a boy and a woman who are related to the court）, in both stories the woman loves the boy, but the boy remained loyal to the king, and rejects her love. The boy is accused with treason and finally the truth becomes evident. Propositions of these stories include： proper noun （characters）, verb （actions） and adjective （features and characteristics of persons）, which are common in both stories and are repeated identically in both stories. Also according to Todorov＇s view, the five modes in propositions （declarative mode, optative mode, subjunctive mode, conditional mode, predictive mode） have been investigated in these two stories. This will put more emphasis on the similarity of narrative structure of stories.