Projects / Programmes
Research in comparative literature and literary theory, Tendencies in World Literature and Slovene Literature
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2014
| 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 |
| 6.02 |
Humanities |
Languages and Literature |
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 (19)
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 research significantly contributes to the scientific consideration of Slovene and European literature from historical, theoretical, and methodological perspectives. It re-examines the role of some of the Slovene authors and genres (older Slovene literature, Srečko Kosovel, Vladimir Bartol, historical novel, Slovene novelists of the 70s and 80s), and furthermore creates a whole new field of knowledge, for example with the analysis of the most recent fictional and poetic production. Within the scope of literary historiography the research contributes towards the development of a new paradigm of literary history, introducing a method of cartographic representation. Versological research provide us with new information regarding the history and structure of Slovene verse and, in the international context, a wholly original theory of »language memory« (developed by Prof Novak). Within the combined fields of literary theory and philosophy of literature the research group presents new findings regarding the status and scope of literary discourse, e.g. the specificity of literary discourse, the authors' legal, ethical, and moral (ir)responsibility, that proved to be of significance in the international context also, since these remain pressing scientific issues. Studies in translation greatly further the development of translation studies and literary criticism, since they confirm the status of the translation as an original and autonomous text but also point towards its capacity to be used as instrument of manipulation because of the readership's implicit trust in the translators adherence to common translating strategies and normatives. IN the international context, they significantly contribute to the Post-socialist translation studies. The field of literary didactics examines the issues of purposeful establishment of connection between particular readers and literature as special topic within literary communication and helps to explain the social function of literature as promulgated by educational processes. These findings are of interest to literary systemic research, the aesthetics of reception, and research in the field of cultural studies or cultural anthropology. The research in the field of interculturality opens new prospects for the examination of contemporary transgressive cultural phenomena that challenge the limits of contemporary humanist studies. The catalogue of medieval manuscripts provides new literary historical information and at the same time material for medievalist study in many different fields in arts and social and natural sciences.
Significance for the country
The study of Slovene literature within this group is fundamental not only for the 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 Kosovel research, for instance, aims to upgrade the English Kosovel edition (Man in a Magic Square) selected, edited, and introduced by Janez Vrečko; this edition served 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, and will continue to be so, as an international project. The research contributes 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 in the study of the culture of the »third« (in this case Russian culture) opens the possibility of an establishment of a common European scientific identity in the field of study of contemporary cultural forms and the deepening of the understanding of primary cultures; finally, this will 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 can also serve 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 tran-slation 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 influence the education of staff, since they already were employed in the departments of comparative literature and literary theory, Slavic languages and literatures, Slovene language and literature, translation and interpreting, history of art, and possibly others.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
