Towards a New Definition of Comparative Literature and Criticism

Based upon the major events of the past decades in the field ofcomparative literature, there seems to be a need for a new definition ofcomparative literature and comparative criticism. In this essay, thenew characteristics needed for the new definition of comparativeliterature and the approaches and methods of comparative criticism(especially interdisciplinary approaches) will be outlined. Theresearcher believes in order to understand these new characteristics,one needs to analyze and re-read the concepts of “the other”, “border”and “identity”. With the advent of translation theory, semiotics,narrative theory, postcolonial theory (especially diaspora theory) andcultural theory, there appeared drastic changes not only in the field ofcomparative studies but also in the methodology of comparativestudies. Therefore, the challenge we face at the moment is theexplanation of the approaches and methods based upon the newdefinitions. Consequently, three major theories and methodologies areproposed and it is claimed that the intertextual theory and methodsmatch best with the new definitions of comparative literature.