The course examines literature and other media as important sources of intercultural understanding. Works from both within and beyond the Western world are therefore included. The course studies processes and contexts which are brought to the fore when literature and other media are considered in a global context. With both early and contemporary works as points of departure experiences of exile, ethnicity, national identity and differences in the relationships between cultures are examined. The establishment of the canon, migrant literature, the representation of orality in literary texts and "hybridisation" are also discussed.

The course consists of two equal parts: i) The Idea of World Literature and ii) The Processes of Translation, Interpretation and Transformation. The first part allows the students to familiarise themselves with various aspects of the concept of world literature, from Goethe to current debates on the topic. In addition, a number of important works of world literature are read and analysed.

The second part of the course examines works from various periods and cultures with particular consideration given to problems associated with translation and the subject matter of Translation Studies. Here, not only linguistics is of importance, but also historical, economic and cultural- political aspects.

The course is included in the Master of Arts programme in Literature – Culture – Media. It is also offered as a single course.