College of Letters and Science
350 Kaplan Hall
Box 951536
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1536
Comparative Literature
310-825-7650
Department e-mail
Standing at the forefront of innovative work in literary, theoretical, and cultural studies, comparative literature is one of the most exciting fields in the humanities. As a discipline it requires exceptional linguistic ability, theoretical knowledge, and high intellectual caliber. The UCLA program offers students the opportunity to work with faculty members in any of the language and literature departments as well as with the Department of Comparative Literature faculty.
The department, which is interdisciplinary and multilingual in scope, is committed to continuing its pioneering work in defining new literary paradigms and fostering new directions for exploration in literary studies, including such areas as the relationship between translation and transnationalism, literary theory and emerging media, the future of national literatures in an era of globalization, gender and sexuality studies, East-West cultural encounters, human rights and global censorship, postcolonial and diaspora studies, and experimental approaches to literature and culture.
Focusing on elements that preoccupy literary studies in general, such as genre, period, theme, language, and theory, comparative literature also extends its range to questions that concern other disciplines such as anthropology, art history, film and media studies, gender studies, history, and philosophy. Courses are designed to provide students with both a historical and theoretical understanding of literary and cultural forms, themes, and movements. Given its focus on interdisciplinary research and pedagogy, comparative literature is a natural site around which to explore the boundaries of modern language and literary studies.
