• PhD Degree Requirements
• Curriculum

Program Description
Comparative Literary Studies (CLS) is unique among humanistic disciplines in that it has no subject-matter that can be predetermined. As its name indicates, its area of study encompasses “literature,” but unlike other literary disciplines the objects it investigates are not situated in any one “national” tradition or any one “natural” language. Rather, its boundary is defined by the plurality and diversity of differing cultural and linguistic traditions. In respect to such differences, the “comparisons” pursued in CLS do not primarily strive to establish “parity” between what is being compared, but rather explore problems that develop across different language-traditions and emerge out of their interaction.

Since such problems encompass the literatures of diverse cultures and traditions, they are determined first and foremost not simply by language, but by linguistic diversity. Moreover, the literary dimension of this diversity defines it as not just inter-linguistic but also and perhaps above all as intra-linguistic. Thus, for CLS, “natural” or “national” languages are never homogeneous or self-identical: beyond their divisions into “dialects” and idiolects of all sorts, they are divided intrinsically and constitutively by their signifying function, which at the same time also opens them to interaction with other signifying media.

Its tradition of close textual reading places comparative literary studies in a unique position to interact with developing studies of non-verbal media. What CLS has to contribute to media studies generally is its accumulated experience in the interpretation of signifying processes as they operate discursively. What it has to learn from non-literary media studies and other disciplines is how these processes operate in other discursive contexts and in non-discursive media.

Students in this program are also encouraged to participate in TGS’s Interdisciplinary Initiative program.  For more information on how you can have a second intellectual “home” outside of your department or program please visit the Interdisciplinary Initiative page.

Core Faculty

Affiliated Faculty