Peripherality and World Literature

Abstract

Abstract Critiques of World Literature often come with assumptions that are formed with reference to more central cultures’ conceptualization(s) of the relationship between literature, society and politics. As a result, they almost always neglect, perhaps unwittingly, the pluralities of literature in the world, and the specific and unexpected way(s) translated literature functions in diverse contexts. Focused on the condition of peripherality and engaging literary translation, academic relevance, and political impact, this paper addresses some of the critiques with specific examples from a peripheral context, to argue why the study of World Literature matters, and how it can lead to social and political effects that are not visible from the perspective of central cultures.