Comparative Cultural Studies

Po co ‘mit’ literaturoznawstwu? Kilka uwag z antyeuropocentrycznego niekiedy punktu widzenia [Why Do We Need a “Myth” in Literary Studies? A Few Remarks from Sometimes Anti-Eurocentric Point of View ]

by Adam F. Kola

In; Komparatystyka i konteksty. Komparatystyka między Mickiewiczem a dzniem dzisiejszym II, ed. L. Wiśniewska, Bydgoszcz: Wyd. UKW 2012, pp. 79-90 [PL with ENG summary]

In contemporary comparative literature we can observed deconstruction and re-thinking of used categories, e.g. “world... more In contemporary comparative literature we can observed deconstruction and re-thinking of used categories, e.g. “world literature”. The first aim of the paper is re-thinking of the category of “myth”. Anti-Eurocentric perspective lets us to re-define this term in the context of comparative studies. The second aim is to emphasized that the “myth” is abused in literary studies. The solution of that problem is deuniversalization and localization of that category. In European tradition, especially in modern times, myth is a kind of literary strategy, therefore in fact it is not a myth (e.g. heroes, not myths, like Don Juan, Faustus, Don Quixote, Lucifer, etc., are just only a literary fictions, fantasies, functioning in literary works as a intertextual references). As a modern myth, we can consider, for example in the Polish context, Katyń Massacre, The Warsaw Uprising or Solidarity Movement, etc. Those myths are existing in modern societies similarly to myths in prehistoric, archaic communities. The myths should be studied in local contexts of each cultures. In non-European cultures the myth is functioning not only in different ways in literary circulation, but very often is outside literature per se, whereas its role in social life could be completely different to Western one. From epistemological point of view – constructivist, anti-essentialist, or like in Chinese tradition relational – universalists approach to myth is not possible, whereas theory of myth is always contingent and local (relationship with ideas of Richard Rorty is legible). In such a perspective myth is functional in specific culture, works in accordance with this culture principles. Hence, if the culture recognizes mythical and mythological explanations as a valid and true, it should be – from intentional rationality point of view – interpreted in such categories. Myths are a part of social reality, even this secular one, and literature can use it as a breading- and back-ground, but will not be a substitution. From non-European point of view it is obvious. Acceptance of anti-Eurocentric perspective allow us to see, what is hidden from our gaze.

“Antropologizacja literaturoznawstwa a komparatystyka” [“Antropologization of the Literary Studies and Comparative Studies”]

by Adam F. Kola

“Antropologizacja literaturoznawstwa a komparatystyka” [“Antropologization of the Literary Studies and Comparative Studies”], in: "Antropologizowanie humanistyki. Zjawisko – procesy – perspektywy" ["Antropologization of the Humanities. Phenomenon – Process – Outlook"], eds. J. Kowalewski, W. Piasek, Olsztyn: Colloquia Humaniorum 2009, pp. 83-106 [PL].

The aim of the paper is comparison of the process of development of cultural anthropology and comparative studies in... more The aim of the paper is comparison of the process of development of cultural anthropology and comparative studies in the perspective of post-war anthropologization of whole humanities and social science. It ought to be emphasized, that this proposition is different from Steven Tötösy de Zepetnek or Michael Riffaterre’s complementarity of comparative literature and cultural studies, cultural theory or cultural critique. Afterward I underline some of the key issues of cultural anthropology, and their application into the comparative literature. Among the others, I analyzed in this article three of them: (1) Practice shows that intercultural communication is possible and effective. In philosophy I would defend the idea of “internal realism” or “pragmatic realism”, or – in different terms – “intentional rationality” (Michał Buchowski). In this approach people act in accordance with the norms, and convictions, beliefs shared in their community (like in Jerzy Kmita’definition of culture). Ergo: all cultures are rational in their own perspective. Based on this issue we could rethink the idea of intercultural translation (borrowed from Stanley Tambiah and supported by Hilary Putnam), and combine those topics with the paradigm central for current comparative literature. (2) Moreover, in this article I presented transformation from Goethe’s idea of ‘Weltliterature’ to David Damrosch’s world literature and the consequences of that process from the perspective of anthropologization of comparative studies. (3) Finally, I combine this approaches with globalization in the gaze of cultural anthropology (especially questions of relativism, multiculturalism, acculturation, intercultural exchange, etc.), and the possible (not only academic but also social) role of comparative literature in (post)modern world.

“Comparative Cultural Studies and Paremiology: A Case Study of the Libro de Buen Amor.

by Louise O. Vasvári

In Marie-Christine Bornes Varol & Marie-Sol Ortola, eds. ALIENTO. Corpus anciens et bases de donnés. Comptoir des Presses d'Universite, 2011.

I propose that Comparative Cultural Studies, a hybrid field of scholarship grounded in critical humanities and social... more I propose that Comparative Cultural Studies, a hybrid field of scholarship grounded in critical humanities and social sciences which seeeks to make explicit connections between culture and society, is an appropriate theoretical frame in which to study paremiology, as I shall illustrate through a case study of the fourteenth-century Libro de Buen Amor.  The Libro, which contains some 400 proverbs, is an excellent source for studying the oral-textual dynamic between canonized works and oral discourses. Specifically, the Libro’s parodic use of proverbs also serves as an anti-discourse that humorously distorts both the trite oral authority of traditional proverbs and simultaneously the hackneyed textual authority of the cuaderna vía verse in which it is written.  I shall analyze a variety of proverbs in the work to illustrate how lost meanings can be recuperated through comparative cultural studies, in particular in relation to gender ideologies. Unusual features of my study will include comparative study of proverbs collected from twentieth-century Hungarian speakers, as well as the theoretical retrieval of several “silent” proverbs in the Libro, which do not actually appear in the surface text but clearly contribute to its deep structure.

2004 Mortuary Representations of the Noble House: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Between Collective Tombs of the Ancient Maya and Dynastic Europe

by Estella Weiss-Krejci

Seventy years of archaeological research in the Maya area have brought to light a series of tombs and crypts that hold... more Seventy years of archaeological research in the Maya area have brought to light a series of tombs and crypts that hold more than one individual. The patterns regarding age, completeness and articulation of skeletons and sequence of deposition in some of these tombs suggest different burial traditions. These traditions include the placing of sacrificial victims with a deceased tomb principal, sequential burial of family members, or reburial of curated or exhumed ancestral remains. In medieval and post-medieval Europe, collective tomb burial was also very common. The investigation of tomb formation in the Habsburg dynasty shows that similar patterns can result from mortality, mobility and territorial shifts in a noble house. Maya multiple tombs and crypts simply may have been the final resting-places for the deceased members of noble houses who were deposited and redeposited in both simultaneous and sequential fashion.

Jihad VS McWorld: A Dialectic Civilization

by Surya Awangga

Jihad dan McWorld bertindak dengan kekuatan yang seimbang dalam posisi yang berlawanan. Yang satu (Jihad) digerakkan... more Jihad dan McWorld bertindak dengan kekuatan yang seimbang dalam posisi yang berlawanan. Yang satu (Jihad) digerakkan oleh kebencian parokial, yang lain (McWorld) digerakkan oleh pasar-pasar global. Yang satu menciptakan kembali subnasional lama dan batas etnis dari dalam dirinya, yang lain membuat batas nasional mudah ditembus dari luar.  Definisi Jihad – McWorld sebagai ‘kekuatan’ merupakan hal yang menarik sebab keduanya memang berupa daya yang menggerakkan dan dapat termanifestasi dalam bentuk yang beragam. Dalam menerangkan relasi Jihad-McWorld, Barber menggunakan istilah “dialektika” yang dipinjamnya dari kosakata filsafat Hegel. Berber menyebutkan bahwa dialektika McWorld adalah suatu studi yang memiliki alasan tertentu untuk menghormati perbedaan radikal yang memisahkan. Jihad dan McWorld mengetahui kekuatan serta saling ketergantungan yang paradoks satu sama lain. Dialektika adalah suatu pola dialog, saling menangkal dan dengan demikian saling membenarkan dan memajukan, bukannya dimengerti dalam pola tesis-antitesis-sintesis saja.

The four horsemen of Islamic science: a critical analysis

by Seng Loo

Int. J. Sci. Educ., 1996, Vol. 18, No. 3, 285-294

This paper critically examines four versions of Islamic science. Of these, only one can be regarded as a viable fusion... more This paper critically examines four versions of Islamic science. Of these, only one can be regarded as a viable fusion between Islam and science. Far from being a threat to civilization, Islamic science addresses concerns that are severely lacking in Western science and thus has much to offer to humanity. In contrast to Western science with its lack of moral fibre and the inordinate emphasis given to reductionism, Islamic science takes upon a more holistic human-centred approach that is grounded in values that promote social justice, public welfare and responsibility towards the environment. The only limitation of Islamic science is that it does not adequately resolve the issue of control in the conduct of science. A truly humanistic science should not be regulated solely by members of the scientific community or the clergy but by all members of society through democratic participation.

Social Risk-Management Strategies in Pastoral Systems: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis

by Kyle Olson

Co-authored with Mark Moritz, Julia Giblin, Miranda Ciccone, Andréa Davis, Jesse Fuhrman, Masoumeh Kimiaie, Stefanie Madzsar, and Matthew Senn.

Pastoralists risk losing their livelihood overnight due to drought, disease, and other disasters. They employ... more Pastoralists risk losing their livelihood overnight due to drought, disease, and other disasters. They employ different strategies to minimize these risks, including the following: Mobility, herd maximization, diversification, and social strategies. Social strategies are considered critical because they provide not only a safety net during disasters but also contribute to the resilience of pastoral societies by allowing pastoralists to rebuild herds after disasters. There is, however, much variation in social risk-management strategies (SRMS) across pastoral societies. To understand this variation, we conducted a comparative study of 20 pastoral societies from different socioeconomic, historical, and environmental settings. We used Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to examine which causal configurations explain the variation in SRMS. This analytical approach helped us to identify four clusters of pastoral groups, in which different causal configurations are associated with exchange networks, patron—client relations, and noninstitutional SRMS.

"Alegorik, Komik ve Gerçekçi bir Oyunu Türkçeleştirmek: Anthony Neilson'ın The Wonderful World of Dissocia'sı."

by Özlem Karadağ

Alman Dili ve Edebiyatı Dergisi XXII (2009/2): 79-87.

"Kadınlar Robotlara Karşı"

by Özlem Karadağ

Gölge e-dergi, June 2011, pp. 75-84

Ira Levin's Stepford Wives vs. the Directors' Choices: A Closer Look at Bryan Forbes's and Frank Oz's Adaptations. Ira Levin's Stepford Wives vs. the Directors' Choices: A Closer Look at Bryan Forbes's and Frank Oz's Adaptations.

Painting With Film: Affective immediacy and temporal narrative in the cinema of David Lynch

by Gunnar Theodór Eggertsson

Paper originally written for the graduate course Art and Film, taught by Dr. Sophie Berrebi, at the University of Amsterdam, spring 2006, and subsequently presented in part at a students' symposium.

Please note that this was written before the release of Inland Empire.

In this paper I use David Lynch as an example of an artist who is both a film director and a painter in order to... more In this paper I use David Lynch as an example of an artist who is both a film director and a painter in order to explore the similarities and differences between the two artforms through his work, particularly in relation to form, structure, space, narrative and time.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA: AN INTERPRETATION IN THE LIGHT OF INDIAN IDEA OF KINGSHIP

by Susheel Sharma

Co-author Vinod Kumar Singh
Article published in Indian Journal of English Studies, XLVIII(2011), pp. 54-67. PDF file attached

Shakespeare’s famous love tragedy Antony and Cleopatra has been subjected to critical analysis by a number of critics... more Shakespeare’s famous love tragedy Antony and Cleopatra has been subjected to critical analysis by a number of critics who have frequently disputed the moral meaning of it but there is no consensus. While at one hand, S. T. Coleridge regards it as the most “wonderful” Shakespeare’s play, but on the other hand for G. B. Shaw the play has “no moral value whatever”. The history of its critical reactions suggests that the play has been and is still a big challenge for its interpreters. It embodies, as John Wilders says, very different and apparently irreconcilable evaluation of the central experience and never allows its audience or reader a secure and stable moral vantage-point from which to judge the action or characters, gives one instead multiple perspectives and invites constant reassessment of one’s responses. Thus in this very spirit the present paper is an attempt to interpret the play in the Light of Indian Idea of Kingship that gives a vivid description about a king’s status, category, virtues, education, appointment, duties and assistants. It would enable a reader to make a character study of the play on the new and quite different paradigms, and help them to make a value-judgement of the play as well as Shakespeare’s ideas of kingship. 
In the play there are five kingly characters viz. Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, Lepidus, Sextus Pompius, and Cleopatra. They are judged on the parameters of Indian idea of kingship. The first three are the triple pillars of the Roman world, the forth one is a big challenge to their monopoly, and the fifth is the queen of the Egypt. The paper evaluates their characters one by one.  According to Indian idea of kingship Antony has the virtues of enthusiasm but lacks the virtues of inviting nature, the virtues of intelligence and intuition, and the virtues of self-restraint. He does not discharge his personal as well as public duties. While Caesar has the virtues of inviting nature, the virtues of intelligence and intuition, and the virtues of self-restraint but is war loving and practices demonic victory over other states.  In comparison to these two, Lepidus is rather a weak and feeble character. He lacks almost all the kingly virtues and is indifferent to his personal as well as public duties. And the fourth one, Pompey is a republican idealist. Though he has the virtues of inviting nature, the virtues of enthusiasm, the virtues of self-restraint, he lacks the virtues of intelligence and intuition. Like Lepidus the fifth character Cleopatra also lacks almost all the kingly virtues and is indifferent to her personal and public duties. Thus on surveying these kingly characters it is found that all of them are passionate. Because of their reluctance towards kingly virtues, which according to Indian polity thinkers are very essential for a king, they are creating many hardships for each other and are helping to bring the final catastrophe of the play.

Medea: Pasolini y el Mito

by Julián Astorga

Final Exam, Ensayo Final para el Curso "Introducción a los Estudios Clásicos"

La Medea de Pier Paolo Pasolini incorpora una interesante lectura sobre el mito de Jasón. El juego de los centauros,... more La Medea de Pier Paolo Pasolini incorpora una interesante lectura sobre el mito de Jasón. El juego de los centauros, así como la misma actitud de Medea y su dios Sol, se pueden leer dentro del marco del cambio del pensamiento griego desde lo mítico hacia lo filosófico.