Projects / Programmes
Research in comparative literature and literary theory, Tendencies in World Literature and Slovene Literature
January 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.07.00 |
Humanities |
Literary sciences |
|
| 6.06.00 |
Humanities |
Culturology |
|
| 6.10.00 |
Humanities |
Philosophy |
|
| 6.01.00 |
Humanities |
Historiography |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H390 |
Humanities |
General and comparative literature, literary criticism, literary theory |
history of world literature, history of Slovene literature, history of Russian literature, comparative literature, literary theory, literary methodology, translation studies, literature and arts, literature and media, literature and culture, literary didactics
Researchers (13)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research group investigates the widest scope of scientific problems in the area of literary studies (Slovene literature, world literature, literary theory, comparative literature, literature and other cultural discourses and discursive practices); within these problems it concentrates on more specific themes. It the field of comparative literary history it studies the periods of world- and Slovene literature and, in this context, the specific character of the Slovene literature and its role in (mostly) European culture. These investigations are focused mainly on North American and European Literatures; nevertheless they pay more attention also to others, so called post-colonial literatures, first of all to Latin American literatures that in the twentieth century became tantamount to European and American literatures, or to the newly arising African literatures. It also investigates the history and theory of literary genres and modes, the (comparative) theory of verse, narratology and theory of drama. It mostly focuses on the canonical works of the world- and Slovene literature, but it includes in its research also the theory and critical analysis of popular literature and of some non-fictional genres. It examines the inclusion and the role of the (Slovene or world) literary culture in the specific cultural-historical periods (above all in the antiquity, middle ages, renaissance, new romanticism, modernism and postmodernism). It is engaged with the theory of translation and with the concrete analyses of single translations (mainly) into Slovene; the translation is treated in its role as the intercultural mediation; the attention is paid also to the ideological stimuli which in some contexts motivate translation. It follows the development of contemporary literary theory and of theories of neighboring disciplines (such as sociology, cultural studies, philosophy, psychoanalysis, psychology, historiography etc.) and questions the modernization of literary historiography, literary theory, canon formation, position of women in Slovene- and world literature. It deals with Slovene exile-literature. It investigates the connection between literature and other cultural or social discourses (other arts, particularly fine arts and film; philosophy; mythology, religion, mysticism etc.) and treats the artistic get up of books. It also deals with literary didactics: it studies the methods of teaching literature in the elementary school, secondary school and at the university and analyses school canon and curriculum. It pays attention to the auto-reflection of the discipline and discusses the role and importance of literature and literary studies in the contemporary culture and society.
Significance for science
The comparative research of European literature revealed new insights into the Greek pre-tragic drama and Greek novel. The research on traditional and contemporary Russian literature forms base for Slovene Russian studies and were echoed also by the Russian literary criticism. The first Slovene monograph on French symbolism has been published. The research of Slovene literature has included the systematic study of literary texts of the oldest periods of Slovene literature; systematic analyses of contemporary Slovene poetry due to its relevance forms the base for any contemporary research in Slovene poetry. Attention has been paid to the often overlooked work of female poets. New term – minimalism – has been introduced, denoting a characteristic movement of contemporary Slovene fiction. In the area of literary theory the attention has been paid to the so-called hymnic tragedy; the important hypothesis, concerning the lyricalization of the novel, has been launched. An original hypothesis in the Slovene literary historiography, concerning France Prešeren as the remote successor of the medieval troubadours, has been presented . A new systemization of short-fiction genres has been offered (approved in Slovenia as well as, partly, abroad). In addition, important research on the social role of literature has been done; particularly on the central role of Slovene novel in the process of democratization of the Slovene political area and consequently the attainment of independence. The methodological research analysed in detail (thematically and historically) the meaning and the role of literary criticism in the last two decades and endeavoured to find epistemologically verified methodological conceptions for scientific occupation with literature in the new circumstances. These discussions gained attention in the foreign scientific public as well. Methods of contemporary literary historiography were looked upon critically. The scientific monograph about methodological and theoretical problems was published. The interdisciplinary research of the medieval manuscripts from Slovenia is due to its extent and methods the spadework in this field. These researches were carried out mainly in the international circles, together with its results, which were not presented only in Slovenia, but elsewhere. The findings of this research are of major significance to the historiography as well as to the literary criticism and the science of art. Translational studies in Slovenia already have their short tradition, but systematically in theoretical and methodological ways they were basically founded by this research programme. The researchers looked into several scientific problems from this field, but their greatest achievement, which also gained international interest, is the introduction into the so-called (post)communist translation studies and investigation of the possibility of translating a text to a foreign language. In the field of literary didactics, the first Slovenian scientific monograph on this topic was published. The studies of the members of this programme represent the necessary reference for scientific research on the problems of didactics of the literature at high schools and vocational secondary schools, on the questions of literature on the external examination, principles for the production of literary coursebooks and, finally, principles for the production of school curricula. In all these fields the scientific results of the members of this programme were applied to practice. One member of the research programme received a national reward. The members of the research programme reflected upon the occurrence of the Internet and its consequences for the (Slovene) literary culture. The vast electronic collection of the Slovene literature and literary criticism has been produced and the organization of the entries in the online encyclopaedia has been carried out.
Significance for the country
The study of Slovene literature within this group is fundamental not only because of Slovene national identity but also with respect to the Slovene role in the European integration (the knowledge of other cultures and their literature is the conditio sine qua non of our participation in European and global communities) and, specifically, for the promotion of Slovenia: the English Kosovel edition (Man in a Magic Square) selected, edited, and introduced by Janez Vrečko, served for instance as a protocolary gift to all European MPs upon Slovene accession to the EU. The discovery and processing of medieval manuscripts from Slovene territory directly contributes to Slovene heritage care; due to the collection’s significance in the European context this is already being considered as an international project. The research contributed to care for Slovene cultural heritage by the digitalisation of texts that remain to be subjects of thorough analysis. The exchange of various European cultural perspectives contributes to the study of contemporary cultural forms and the deepening of the understanding of primary cultures; this enhance the capacity for openness towards and acceptance of difference. The literary-didactic research is informed by practical concerns applicable to educational processes and useful in the solution of specific educational issues (building curricula, choice of materials, teaching). It also served as source material for pedagogical subjects being taught on undergraduate and postgraduate levels and act as an important mainstay of teaching competency in the Bologna education-nal programmes. Curricula developers from abroad have already expressed their interest in the qualitative results of the study with view of implementing them in their own respect-tive fields (Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia). The results in the field of translation studies are guaranteed to contribute to the development of a friendly, user-oriented information society. The awareness of the end translation as being not only the result of a specific interpretation on the part of the translator, but also a reflection of the prevalent poetics, politics, and ideology, is fundamental in, on the reader's part, the understanding of the power of translation and the capacity of its manipulation, and on the part of the translator, the development of critical self-reflexivity and transparency. It could be argued that the findings of the research group as a whole add to the recognisability of the role and value of literature and humanist studies in general in the formation of modern society. Research results also directly influenced the education of staff, since they were immediately employed in the departments of comparative literature and literary theory, Slavic languages and literatures, Slovene language and literature, translation and others.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
