Literary Criticism

Challenging the biases of current discussions on World Literature and shifting the focus from a single center to multiple, entangled literary histories necessitates a study of literary criticism itself. For each region, we ask where ideas of what constitutes “good” literature and even literature itself comes from, and if multiple formal and generic norms exist or overlap within the same space.

We search for responses to impactful concepts such as “refinement” or “modernity” and consider the possibility that textual production may exist which rejects or ignores these concepts even in regions where they had considerable reception. Other avenues we explore include canon formation, tools of recognition—from prizes and panels to court patronage-—and literary history. Finally, we notice that much of the secondary criticism and literary theory that underpins academic discourses on World Literature is overwhelmingly European and American. We hope to bring to your attention to literary criticism and theory on World Literature written in non-European languages by scholars from our various regions. In this effort, we have commissioned the translation of numerous essays related to World Literature written in Urdu into English. We worked closely with the Pakistan Academy of Letters to compile and curate this list.