The XIXth Congress of International Comparative Literature Association
(8/15/10~8/21/10, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea)

Congress Theme:
Expanding the Frontiers of Comparative Literature

In this era of globalization, Comparative Literature faces new challenges. As an academic discipline, for the past ten years Comparative Literature has had to embrace or often compete with other emerging interdisciplinary studies, including cultural studies, regional studies and translation studies.  Today, as new technologies redefine the boundaries of knowledge and globalization draws the world closer together, Comparative Literature faces the added challenge of expanding its boundaries and frontiers to rethink its identity and role as a discipline.

The conference theme “Expanding the Frontiers of Comparative Literature” can be interpreted on many levels.  We believe that Comparative Literature needs to move beyond its Western origins to become a productive arena for scholarly work on all literatures across the world.  We also believe that Comparative Literature can take the lead in redefining the boundaries of “literature.”  Hyper-textual, multi-visual media cultures are changing the ways in which we approach textuality today.  In addition, Comparative Literature can become a fruitful site for discussions on nature, the environment, and technology, as well as their impact on human civilization.
In other words, Comparative Literature can and should provide the grounds for new communication, dialogue, and insight in our greatly expanded world.  By expanding the frontiers of Comparative Literature, we hope to raise questions about race, region, religion, and ideology in a globalized context, as well as to place literature at the center of all initiatives to change society and human lives for the better.

Korea is the only divided country on the face of the earth.  This is all the more reason why we believe that a Comparative Literature conference on breaking down boundaries and overcoming frontiers will be both appropriate and timely.  We would like to invite the global community to meet in Korea to discuss how to expand the frontiers of Comparative Literature in imaginative ways.

Congress Sessions

Participation in the ICLA 2010 is open to all individuals or groups interested in the field of Comparative Literature. The Organizing Committee of ICLA 2010 welcomes the submission of abstracts related to the six sub-themes described below. All abstracts presented at the congress will be published in the abstract book.

1. Making Comparative Literature Global: New Theories and Practices

The 21st century having brought us properly into the age of globalization, Comparative Literature must now re-establish a new concept and identity for literature through theory and practice founded on a new knowledge that reaches beyond the boundaries of race, culture, region, politics, and scholarship to expand and unify its horizon. In particular, the globalization of Comparative Literature must seek out a means to expand the direction and range of research by breaching the fence of Eurocentric literary theory and discourse, and canonizing the long-standing and tenacious literary traditions of other regions. To this end, we must find a new consilience through the in-depth discussion of different literary theories accompanied by a comparative study of Western literary theory.

2. Locating Literature in the Hypertextual Age

Comparative Literature must present a new method of co-existence within the complex culture of a hypertextual age. With the appearance of hypertext, cutting-edge technology seems on the verge of replacing the classical concept of text culture. Thus, literary texts must seek out a means of surviving the age of text-surpassing multiple media. In this advent of the age of hypertext, Comparative Literature must be able to present a concrete vision and plan regarding the existential value and direction of literary text.

3. Nature, Technology, and Humanity in Different Traditions

Comparative Literature must carry into a new arena of discussion the issues of nature and environment, science and technology, humanity and ethics—issues addressed by the diverse cultures of many nations—and thereby present a new discourse that may be jointly owned by all of humanity. The advancement of technology continues to bring environmental destruction, and this damage will be carried over to the next generation. In particular, the First and Third Worlds hold sharply divergent views on such issues. Therefore, to approach and discuss from a comparative perspective such issues of environment and technology, and the issues of humanity and ethics to which everything eventually returns, is especially important for the direct connection of such discussion to the survival of human civilization.

4. Writing the Conflicts and Otherness

In the 21st century we have moved beyond the age during which ideological differences brought about the Cold War. But humanity still faces an endless array of new discriminations and conflicts of region, religion, ideology, wealth, and generation. By embracing cultural diversity, and by expanding and re-manufacturing such concepts of acceptance, Comparative Literature must offer a concrete means of co-existence and reconciliation. In this way, Comparative Literature will be able to take on the practical and revolutionary function that falls to literature when it faces the concrete problems of the real world. We will re-visit the various concepts of otherness that have been discussed thus far, and seek out the role of Comparative Literature in creating a foundation of dialogue and reconciliation that moves beyond politics and conflicts of difference.

5. Translating Differences, Connecting the World

Translation has emerged as one of the most important means of exchange and communication between diverse cultures. Translation can overcome the gap between nations, races, periods, cultures, and languages to provide a new space of exchange and communication. If existing works of translation have contributed primarily to the one-sided transmission of Western culture to the Third World, translation in the 21st century must stand on the front lines of genuine mutual exchange between different cultures. In this light, cultural translation that examines the negotiations of culture taking place at many levels between source-text and target-text offers a new direction for translation in the 21st century.

6. Asia in the Changing Comparative Paradigm

Asia has developed various paradigms of knowledge, sensibility, and value through its long tradition and history. Asian literary tradition and culture have also disseminated and transformed through communication and exchange within Asia as well as across Asian boarders. After a century of western modernization, the significance of Asian classical literature and culture is being discussed once again and is being distinguished as a way of providing new vision. Expectantly, discussions on such Asian paradigms will go beyond the limitations of Orientalism and Occidentalism and give Asia a chance to self-examine productively. In the midst of dynamic change in the concept of Comparative Literature and World Literature, Asia must be actively discussed as the focal point for the integration and re-construction of knowledge for the future.

Group Sections

Group Sections are divided into 5 categories (Symposium, Roundtable, Workshop, Seminar, and Panel). These sections are proposed by individual or group organizers for a group of people who share the same interest in specific issues related to the Congress Theme. In addition to the six Congress Sessions, these group sections are also open to the individuals or groups interested in the special topics. The abstracts and descriptions of these topics are available on the official website of ICLA 2010 (www.icla2010.org).

Submission Guidelines

For the better quality of publication, we would be appreciative, if you would comply with the guidelines featured below in your submission process.
In advance, we would like to inform you that, your session could be deployed in different category of the programs in the organizing process by The Korean Organizing Committee of ICLA 2010.

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Due (except Special Forum): April 30, 2009
Proposal and Abstract Submission Due (Special Forum only): May 31, 2009
Acceptance Notice: October 1, 2009

Abstract Submission

Abstracts should be written and presented in English or French. Abstracts received by April 30, 2009 will be considered under the standard review process.
Late abstracts will be considered when space permits. Online abstract submission is highly recommended after proper online author sign-up. The format and submission guidelines will be available at http://www.icla2010.org.

You may revise your abstract at “My page” on the website after you log on. Please contact the secretariat when online submission is not available. Abstract submissions will be available from March, 2009 through deadline. The online system will guide you through the submission process.

Submission Instructions

Step 1: Prepare abstract(s).
All abstract(s) should be composed of

• Category Name – Thematic Session, Group Session, Special Forum, Program for Asian Graduate Student (preferably in 14 points Arial font, italic)
• Topic (preferably in 14 points Arial font, italic)
• Title (preferably in 14 point Arial font, cap/lower case  single-spaced and bold)
• Author Name, Country Name (preferably in 12 points Arial font)
• 10-20 lines of your abstract (preferably in 12 points Arial font)
• Keywords and Contact Information (E-mail address, preferably in 12 points Arial font, bold)
• A4 size (210X297mm) and with 1.5cm margin on all sides

Abstract(s) should be submitted in Windows-based Microsoft Word (.doc) or Rich Text Format ( .rtf).
Step 2: Log on to the congress website (www.icla2010.org).
Step 3: Click the E-Submission tab from the menu and sign-up first.
Step 4: Upload the author information.
Step 5: Upload the abstract file.

Submission Confirmation

An acknowledgement of the receipt of abstract(s) will be automatically sent to both the corresponding author and the presenting author by e-mail upon online submission. It is the responsibility of each individual to verify the acknowledgements and carefully review the submitted abstract(s), noting that in some cases during the submission process, characters become illegible.

Acceptance Notice

The scientific committee will make the final decision on the acceptance of abstracts for oral presentation. The acceptance of abstracts will be notified on October 1, 2009. If your abstract is accepted, please make sure that you register no later than March 31, 2010 which is the deadline for the early-bird registration. Unless you register in time, your abstract(s) may not be included in the congress abstract book.

Problems and Technical Questions

Problems experienced with the online system or questions related to your abstract submission(s) should be directed to program@icla2010.org.

* For Netscape Users:
Older versions of the Netscape browser may not be compatible with the online system, causing difficulty or preventing abstract submission or data retrieval.

Contact for Paper or Proposal Submission
ICLA 2010 Secretariat
MECI International Convention Services, Inc.
Rm. 1906, 19th floor Daerung Post Tower #1 212-8 Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul 152-790, Korea
Phone + 82 – 2 – 2082 – 2114
FAX + 82 – 2 – 2082 – 2314
E-mail program@icla2010.org

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