Comparative Literature, Film, and Media

Catalog description

Moving beyond national, linguistic, and disciplinary borders, what cutting-edge debates shape the “planetary” field of comparative literature, film, and media studies? Through a wide range of comparative projects, from those often cited as foundational to the discipline to those currently expanding its frames of reference, aims and aspirations, contexts and stakes across the globe, this course will explore how different genres, networks, platforms, and media evolve, engage, question, inform, and transform one another. Topics may include: methods of comparison and approaches to reading, listening and viewing, aesthetics and politics, large-language models and philosophy of language, critical and postcolonial theory, psychoanalysis, translation, poetics, economies, and ecologies, world literature, and the increasingly pervasive role of AI. Writing assignments will include analytical essays, weekly canvas postings, and two in-class presentations. The course can count as a required first-year writing seminar.