Program Overview

Allgemeine und Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft

The Allgemeine und Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft (AVL) program at the University of Zurich focuses on literature in its unique and diverse aspects. The program transcends language boundaries and explores literature's connections to various fields, including art, theater, music, and other media.

Program Description

The AVL program is designed for students who are passionate about reading and eager to explore literary and theoretical texts. The program requires a willingness to engage with diverse text types and genres, as well as a curiosity to discover the complex relationships between texts, words, and literature theories across different languages and cultures.

Key Aspects of the Program

• The program emphasizes the study of literature from various language areas, including German, Romance languages, English, and Slavic languages, as well as ancient literature.
• Students will engage in a dialogue between general theory formation and concrete reading experiences, continuously questioning and challenging each other.
• The program encourages students to explore the connections between literature and other art forms, such as music, theater, and visual arts.

Student Testimonials

• "Exploring the worlds and landscapes built from language and understanding their construction has enriched not only my thinking but also my life."
• "I love literature, but I also have a great interest in theoretical texts. The AVL program allows me to combine both, for example, when we analyze a literary text alongside a philosophical or psychoanalytic text in a seminar."
• "Reading literary texts is like solving puzzles: it requires a sense of curiosity, an eye for details, and the willingness to engage in conversations with the text. The search for meaning is always suspenseful and surprising."
• "Since I am also interested in visual arts, I found the perfect fit in the AVL program, where literature is compared not only across language boundaries but also with other media."
• "Investigating the diversity of linguistic expression possibilities is like looking into a mirror that shows oneself and the world in ever-new facets. Exploring the foundations of language also enriches one's own speaking and the way we inhabit languages."

Program Structure

The AVL program offers a wide range of courses and seminars, allowing students to create their individualized study path. The program's strengths include its diversity and flexibility, enabling students to explore various authors, themes, and topics according to their interests.

Research Areas

The program focuses on the following research areas:

• Literature from different language areas (German, Romance languages, English, Slavic languages, and ancient literature)
• Comparative literature
• Literary theory
• Intermediality (connections between literature and other art forms)

Conclusion

The Allgemeine und Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft program at the University of Zurich offers a unique and diverse study experience, allowing students to explore literature in its various aspects and connections to other fields. With its emphasis on comparative literature, literary theory, and intermediality, the program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of literature and its role in culture and society.