These are the influential theories and approaches in English literature:
1. Postcolonial Theory
2. Gender and Queer Theory
3. Ecocriticism
4. New Historicism
5. Critical Race Theory
Comparative literature draws on literary theory (old and new), literary traditions across the world (not only Western discourses), literary translation studies, media studies, environmental humanities, decolonialism, gender studies and feminism, cultural studies and all sorts of intersections with other scientific research areas (medicine, history, law, psychology, philosophy, etc.).
One can take a dekko at the theories, like affect theory, blue humanities, post human, visual aesthetics, after theory, to name a few.
Comparative literature, like many academic fields, thrives on a constant process of evolution and renewal. Pinpointing the absolute latest theories can be tricky, but here are some exciting trends and approaches gaining traction:
1. World Literature and Decolonization:
· Moving beyond Eurocentric models, scholars are delving into kinds of literature previously marginalized, fostering new dialogues and challenging established canons.
· Postcolonial and decolonial frameworks are applied to understand literary power dynamics, representation, and cultural resistance.
· Works are increasingly examined in their global contexts, emphasizing interconnectedness and challenging national boundaries.
2. Digital Humanities and Comparative Literature:
· Digital tools transform research, facilitating textual analysis, network mapping, and comparative studies across vast datasets.
· Computational methods are employed to analyze literary trends, stylometry, and reception history across languages and cultures.
· New possibilities emerge for collaboration and knowledge sharing through digital platforms and online communities.
3. Ecocriticism and Comparative Literature:
· Environmental concerns are prompting scholars to explore literature's engagement with nature, climate change, and sustainability across cultures.
· Comparative ecocriticism examines diverse cultural perspectives on the environment and fosters eco-awareness through literary analysis.
· This approach highlights the interconnectedness of literature, ecology, and social justice.
4. Comparative Ethics and Literature:
· Ethical questions increasingly find their way into comparative studies, examining representations of morality, justice, and human values across cultures.
· This approach promotes dialogue and understanding between diverse ethical frameworks and their literary expressions.
· Comparative ethics in literature can contribute to critical thinking about global challenges and potential solutions.
5. Intersectionality and Comparative Literature:
· Focusing on overlapping systems of oppression like race, class, gender, and sexuality, scholars explore how marginalized voices are represented across different literatures.
· This approach challenges traditional literary hierarchies and amplifies diverse experiences and perspectives.
· By incorporating intersectionality, comparative literature becomes more inclusive and socially relevant.
It's important to remember that these are just a few key examples, and the field is constantly evolving. Additionally, remember that specific research might delve deeper into established theoretical frameworks within these broader trends. To stay updated, consult academic journals, conference proceedings, and online resources dedicated to comparative literature.