BMET 27A41 - Comparative Inquiry in the Humanities

This course introduces the methods and debates that shape comparative inquiry in the Anglophone humanities. Through key texts in cultural and political theory, weekly topics investigate how the practice of comparison comes into play in staking claims to “universal structures,” transnational solidarities or impossibilities of interpretation. What kind of knowledge is produced through comparison and its methods? How do practices of analogy, juxtaposition, and differentiation reveal—or problematically obscure— relationships across social, political, and cultural contexts? Drawing on work in comparative literature, history and philosophy, weekly readings and discussions explore the possibilities and limits of the comparative method. This course aims to familiarize students with Western methods in the humanities insofar as to prepare them to undertake research in more advanced courses on politics, literature and cultural studies.

Learning Outcomes :

By the end of this course, students can expected to be able to:

• Analyze texts, images, performances, and other cultural objects through close observation and interpretation.
• Apply comparative methods to identify meaningful relationships among diverse cultural forms. • Use theoretical and methodological concepts to support the analysis of specific objects and cases. • Develop clear and persuasive written arguments grounded in textual and cultural evidence. • Engage critically with assigned readings through annotation, reflection, and discussion. • Communicate complex ideas effectively through oral presentation and collaborative exchange. • Conduct an independent research project in the humanistic tradition that demonstrates analytical rigor and effective use of sources.