Translation and the Making of World Literature

FAIN: RZ-51449-13

Trustees of Indiana University (Bloomington, IN 47405-7000)
Russell Valentino (Project Director: December 2011 to present)

A series of symposia examining the role of translation in making literary works a part of world (as opposed to national) literature, culminating in the preparation for publication of essays to appear in special issues of two literary journals. (36 months)

This project proposes to undertake a three-year research project focusing on translation and the making of world literature language with The University of Iowa, the Russian State University of the Humanities (RSUH) and the University of Zadar, Croatia (UZ). Over the course of the grant period, a core group of three faculty colleagues will organize small faculty and professional working groups for five short symposia at their respective campuses. Each symposium will examine the context, placement, and reception of key works of world literature, along with the details of cultural appropriation for each of the identified works. Simultaneously, each group will compile specific data on the publication and dissemination of the works in question, along with an assessment of the factors that played a salient role in their cultural reception.