Interdisciplinary studies in comparative literature, its methodological approaches and the identity crisis of comparative literature

Introduction

    The evolution of comparative literature towards interdisciplinary approaches, putting together literature and other disciplines and sciences and the widespread importing of critical theories and other theoretical discourses into the field of comparative literature, developed important turns in comparative literature and its methods and approaches, and expanded its area considerably. But on the other hand, it also brought new issues and conflicts in this field; particularly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, differences of opinions intensified. Following these debates and conflicts, the comparative literature, which had just emerged from the crisis of theory and method, faced another crisis: the crisis of identity. This new crisis was the result of many theories in this field and forgetting how these theories should be used in the analysis of literary works and how to distinguish between comparative literature as an independent academic discipline and other disciplines. In this article, the author first tries to clarify the concept of interdisciplinary and its necessity in literary studies and provides a clear understanding of the differences between the traditional approach of this theory and its interdisciplinary turns in the present age by examining the interdisciplinary developments of comparative literature. Then, he investigates the concept of identity crisis in the comparative literature, explains its causes and tries to show the necessity of systematic and practicality of these studies, considering the scientific and logical boundaries between disciplines.
 
2.Methodology
     To answer the main problem of this research, we first define interdisciplinary studies, their causes and the necessity of interdisciplinary approaches in different studies, especially literary studies. In the second stage, we present a perspective of the history of comparative literature studies, its theoretical and methodological developments, from traditional French influences to critical theorists' reactions to this approach and then we explain the necessity of interdisciplinary turns in the comparative literature. What is important is placing literature alongside other disciplines and sciences in the field of comparative literature to achieve the practical purposes of interdisciplinary literary studies. Paying attention to this issue clarifies what is discussed in the third part of this paper: Examining the systematic theoretical and methodological frameworks for combining different disciplines and methods and finally putting them in a new structure.
 
3.Discussion
    The evolution of comparative literature towards interdisciplinary approaches and the widespread arrival of critical theories and other theoretical discourses into the field of comparative literature developed important turns in comparative literature and its methods and approaches and expanded its area considerably. Traditional studies of comparative literature, both the influential study of the French school and parallel American studies, made their way to a variety of postmodern theories. Thus, comparative literature examines the relationship between literature and other sciences and disciplines, especially arts such as music, architecture, cinema, mass media, etc., which can be placed next to literature. On the one hand, the expansion of the realm of comparative literature solved the problem of limitation in this field but on the other hand, it created new issues. Following these debates and conflicts, the comparative literature, which had just emerged from the crisis of theory and method faced another crisis: the crisis of identity. This new crisis was the result of many theories in this field and forgetting how these theories should be used in the analysis of literary works and how to distinguish between comparative literature as an independent academic discipline and other disciplines. In other words, although comparative literature in its new sense was able to free itself from being limited to the study of sources and influences and achieve a wider system of studies, according to some critics this system was not well defined. This added the ambiguity of the field of comparative literature in terms of the independent academic institution. This crisis is intensified when the issue of adaptation, which should be at the center of the study of comparative literature, is neglected. Conducting interdisciplinary studies in various fields requires a thoughtful and systematic process and the essential differences between the various disciplines must be taken into account. Here are some key questions to keep in mind: Have we done an interdisciplinary research in comparative literature by juxtaposing the topics and methods belonging to the two disciplines? How can a comparatist establish a fruitful interaction between literature and other scientific and artistic fields? In such a way these studies achieving the ultimate goals of interdisciplinary studies of comparative literature do not ignore the differences of the disciplines and lead the researcher to a comprehensive and deep understanding of the subject matter. Is there a systematic way to combine different disciplines and their methods, and finally put them in a new structure?

Conclusion

    To carry out a systematic interdisciplinary study in the field of comparative literature, we need to use the logical methods and abilities of other sciences and scientific fields to be able to address the concerns of literary research. Our definition of interdisciplinary studies and its methodology should be in accord with the principal objectives of interdisciplinary research. Therefore, it is necessary to make fundamental revisions in clarifying the definition, application, methodology and goals of interdisciplinary approaches in the field of comparative literature studies. On the other hand, using the interdisciplinary approaches in the study of comparative literature does not mean the loss of its independent methodology and identity, rather, it means creating a bridge between literature and other disciplines to enrich literary comparative studies. As much as restricting literary studies and separating literature from other scientific and cultural fields are dangerous and disadvantageous for the achievements of literary research, the unsystematic and nonfunctional expansion of interdisciplinary studies in the field of literature leads unjustified and biased analyses.
Also, considering the adjacency of the nature of different disciplines in an interdisciplinary study is necessary to achieve the scientific and desired results. It is therefore clear that simply addressing the interdisciplinary approach in the comparative literature is not adequate to create a relationship between the literature and other scientific and artistic fields but it is also significant how to deal with these studies and to consider the different capabilities of interdisciplinary studies in different fields.
 

1. Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran. E-mail: f.alavizadeh@gmail.com.