Comparative Literature at Louisiana State University is an interdisciplinary program that encourages students to approach literary studies from a wide array of sociocultural perspectives.
Overview
The Ph.D. program is built around a core curriculum grounded in the history of literary criticism and theory. With the guidance of faculty, students develop their own degree plans and research agendas, meant to combine the study of literature, literary theory, language, philosophy, art, history, and other cultural phenomena in exciting, fruitful, and innovative ways.
As an interdepartmental program, Comparative Literature draws upon the strengths of its affiliated departments in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Welcome from the Director
The LSU Program in Comparative Literature provides a vibrant, collaborative space for students and faculty to explore transnational and interdisciplinary research in literary, cultural, and artistic traditions. Through scholarship, teaching, and community engagement, the program establishes and maintains relationships with a number of local, national, and international entities. Mutual exchange is a core value that fosters the program’s dynamic scholarly atmosphere. The interdepartmental nature of the program creates an opportunity for dialogue and research that engages many different traditions, genres and languages across the globe. In addition to an excellent grounding in multiple areas of literary study, the program envisions expanding the geographical and cultural scope of student and faculty projects. Read more about the program.
News
Ph.D. Candidate Alexander Schmid awarded the 2025-2026 LSU Dissertation Year Fellowship
Doctoral candidate in Comparative, Alexander Schmid, has been awarded a 2025-2026 LSU Dissertation Year Fellowship. This highly prestigious fellowship enables exceptional doctoral candidates like Alex Schmid to have the necessary resources and support to solely focus on their dissertation research. During 2025-2026, Alex will work on his dissertation titled "Contribution to Medieval Political Philosophy: The Arabic Rationalist Influences on Dante’s The Divine Comedy" under the guidance of his major professor, Dr. Gregory Stone, and his committee members, Drs. Adelaide Russo, Richard Godden, and Alexander Orwin.
Ph.D. Candidate Midhat Shah awarded Alumni Association Teaching Assistant Award
Doctoral candidate in Comparative Literature, Midhat Shah, was selected as one of two recipients of this year’s Alumni Association Teaching Assistant Award.
The university will honor Midhat for her outstanding teaching abilities and dedication to students in her classes, Introduction to World Literary Traditions CPLT 2201 / English 2201 and before that, English Composition 1001, and English Composition 2000, at a reception for the 2024 Faculty Award Winners this month.
New CPLT/SCRN 2203 Global Cinemas Undergraduate Course this Spring!
Ph.D. student Jacopo Aldrighetti will teach the 2203 Global Cinemas course "Socio-environmental Conflicts: Documenting, Filming, Writing", which will discuss human-environment interactions across different media (environmental writing, ethnographic and documentary filming, photography, etc.). The course will be taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-10:20 a.m. and is cross-listed between Comparative Literature and Screen Arts. Add it to your schedule using either the CPLT 2203 code for Comparative Literature or SCRN 2203 for Screen Arts. Read more about the course.
Ph.D. Candidate Jaime Elizabeth Johnston wins Zora Neale Hurston Prize
Jaime Elizabeth Johnston (Louisiana State University) received the Zora Neale Hurston Prize, which is given to a graduate or undergraduate student for the best work in any medium—including but not limited to papers, films, sound recordings, or exhibitions—on African American folklore.
Johnston’s thesis, “My Mother Read My Dreams: Dream Interpretation in the African Diaspora,” shares fieldwork conducted with three African American women who practice the tradition of reading dreams in New Orleans. It engages deeply with Folklore Studies, especially belief studies, as well as with personal experience narratives and the importance of phenomenology in looking at emic interpretations of spiritual practices.
Ph.D. Candidate Negar Basiri awarded Alumni Association Teaching Assistant Award
Doctoral student in Comparative Literature, Negar Basiri, was selected as one of two recipients of this year’s Alumni Association Teaching Assistant Award.
The University College will honor Negar for her outstanding teaching ability and dedication to students in her classes, Introduction to World Literary Traditions CPLT 2201 / English 2201 and Introduction to Modern World Lit II CPLT 2202 / English 2202, at the annual Celebration of Excellence Awards Program and Reception in Fall 2024.
Dr. Helen Regis awarded the Brij Mohan Distinguished Professor Award and Dr. Kevin Bongiorni awarded Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award
LSU's Comparative Literature Program is proud to recognize the accomplishments of two of its esteemed faculty members. Dr. Helen Regis was awarded the Brij Mohan Distinguished Professor Award for her outstanding commitment to promoting peace, equality, and social justice within the community.
Dr. Kevin Bongiorni was awarded the Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award for his exceptional dedication to integrating quality service-learning activities into the academic curriculum while embodying best service-learning practices with significant outcomes and community impact.
Dr. Andrew Sluyter Awarded Carnegie Fellowship
The Carnegie Foundation has awarded Dr. Andrew Sluyter the Carnegie Fellowship due to the historical and social relevance of his research. As a fellow, Dr. Sluyter will focus on his project entitled "Slavery and Higher Education: New Narratives on the Plantation Past, New Places for Racial Equity." The project aims to assist educational institutions established on former slave plantations in understanding this aspect of their campus identity and its connection to racial disparities in higher education. Read more in LSU Media Center's article.
Invited Lecture
Saturday, March 29
2:30 p.m.
Meeting ID: 494 639 4679
Passcode: 5758
The Comparative Literature Program presents a lecture by Dr. Wan Sonya Tang, Assistant Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures and Director of Aisan American Studies at Boston College.
Lecture: "Sanmao’s Spain: A Taiwanese Author’s Vision of and Legacy in the Canary Islands"
The Journal
Comparative Woman aims to create an environment that explores topics related to comparative literature and women/gender studies through poetry and academic essays from a multitude of perspectives. We seek to give poets a platform for reflecting on their thoughts and experiences according to each issue’s theme to present our readers with unique, diverse, and thought-provoking art while also exposing our readers to scholarly work on art created by women or about women in mediums both in and outside of the Western Literary Canon.
Events
Comparative Literature Lecture Series
"Sanmao’s Spain: A Taiwanese Author’s Vision of and Legacy in the Canary Islands"
Presenter: Dr. Wan Sonya Tang, Boston College
March 29th, 2025
2:30 p.m.
Virtual.
Past Events
Workshop
Workshop on Professional Success in Comparative and Humanities
With Drs. John Pizer, Adelaide Russo, Jeffrey Leichman, Katelyn Knox, and Richard Godden.
November 8th, 2024
12:30-2:00 p.m.
Hodges Hall 155
"Gender Violence and Historical Memory in "Murmuring Coast" (2004) by Margarida Cardoso and Isabel Coixet's "The Secret Life of Words" (2005)"
Presenter: Dr. Estela Vieira, Indiana University
March 27th, 2024
12:30 p.m.
Virtual.
Movie Screening
"The Secret Life of Words" (2005).
March 20, 2024
In Person: Prescott room 138
3:00-6:00 p.m.
7th Annual Languages and Literatures Conference
Conflict: Global Perspectives
Held Virtually
Time: March 9-11, 2023
Learn more about the conference.
Comparative Literature Lecture Series
"Anonymity as the Immemorial Exile, a Shared Space in Iranian, French & American Texts."
Presenter: Negar Basiri
April 13, 2023. Dean's Office, Hodges 155, 12:30-1:30 PM.
Learn more about the lecture series.