Street Address:
Kaivokatu 12,
Arctium, 2nd floor
Campus area map (T3)
Postal Address:
University of Turku
Comparative Literature
20014 University of Turku
FINLAND
Telephone (Office): +358-2-333 5275
Fax: +358-2-333 6560
Comparative Literature
The subject matter of comparative literature, in both teaching and research, is the literature of the world, including all national and language areas; the main focus, however, is on European and American literature. Literature and literary phenomena are viewed in a broad perspective, not excluding such areas as popular literature, literary criticism and other aspects of literature as an institution, or "marginalized" literatures such as women's literature, the literature of various subcultures and postcolonial and ethnic literature. The subject is approached theoretically and historically; the goal is a theoretical understanding of literary phenomena, and an ability to perceive them in a framework of literary history and more generally in terms of their cultural and social setting.
The broad scope of the subject means that research in comparative literature deals with the most varied questions. Focal issues of interest are the history of the novel and the novel today, the literature of the United States, women's literature, postcolonial and ethnic literature and theater studies. This research applies and develops approaches and paradigms which are prominent in the international theoretical debate. This interest in theory is also reflected in the active participation in the debate.
Graduates with a specialization in Comparative Literature have found their place in the most varied jobs in the cultural sector; for instance in local cultural administration, the press and other media, and adult education. Comparative Literature is also very popular as a second subject especially among language students.
The permanent staff consists of two professors, a lecturer, two assistants and an administrative secretary.