Comp Lit week 10
Class 4ABA0001
Created Dec 03, 2019 1113 AM
Materials
Reviewed
Type Lecture
NOTES
Damrosch, How to Read World Literature
Although authors intend their works for their home audience, literature has
always been global and shared, blurring boundaries between regions.
Especially with cultural globalization, a larger scope of literature has been
made available to us.
This relation used to flow from centre to periphery – studying canonical works
of centre countries in peripheral colonies. Imbalance of translation exists still,
but Damrosch argues that "literature now circulates in multiple directions" and
therefore more possibility for translation exists.
Casanova argues that peripheral region writers need to be found by large
publishing centres as they are more privileged and inclined to sponsor their
work. Although Paris, London and New York are the largest centres, an
example of an outlier is Frankfurt, to whose book fair thousands of agents flock
every year.
Although a more globalised market presents more opportunity for publishing, to
reach a level of success an author still must meet the current needs and trends
in the market. It makes the writing difficult as the author may feel the need to
fit in with the national stereotype of their literature; on the other hand, second-
rate works that fit the feeling of an international, undeclared place may gain
popularity quickly.
The authors that find long-lasting importance are those that can understand
their current national situation, possibility and tension, and handle it creatively
in their work.
Comp Lit week 10 1
Class 4ABA0001
Created Dec 03, 2019 1113 AM
Materials
Reviewed
Type Lecture
NOTES
Damrosch, How to Read World Literature
Although authors intend their works for their home audience, literature has
always been global and shared, blurring boundaries between regions.
Especially with cultural globalization, a larger scope of literature has been
made available to us.
This relation used to flow from centre to periphery – studying canonical works
of centre countries in peripheral colonies. Imbalance of translation exists still,
but Damrosch argues that "literature now circulates in multiple directions" and
therefore more possibility for translation exists.
Casanova argues that peripheral region writers need to be found by large
publishing centres as they are more privileged and inclined to sponsor their
work. Although Paris, London and New York are the largest centres, an
example of an outlier is Frankfurt, to whose book fair thousands of agents flock
every year.
Although a more globalised market presents more opportunity for publishing, to
reach a level of success an author still must meet the current needs and trends
in the market. It makes the writing difficult as the author may feel the need to
fit in with the national stereotype of their literature; on the other hand, second-
rate works that fit the feeling of an international, undeclared place may gain
popularity quickly.
The authors that find long-lasting importance are those that can understand
their current national situation, possibility and tension, and handle it creatively
in their work.
Comp Lit week 10 1
