All these considerations govern the intelligibility of the texts we read and it is to this awareness that the discipline of Comparative Literature responds. Students of Comparative Literature approach literatures in English as well as other languages, using methods deriving from philosophy, psychoanalysis, legal studies, political theory and anthropology. Comparative Literature emphasizes studies of cultural interchange, historical periods, major figures, literary movements, aesthetic initiatives, genres, ideas, themes, and values. The Department of Comparative Literature at Buffalo, rated one of the strongest in the country, is currently developing new interests in nationalism and colonialism, film and popular culture, and gender studies. A comprehensive range of courses is offered, dealing with literature and with literary and critical theory.
Courses tackle advanced problems of meaning and interpretation from multiple perspectives.
These include sophomore-level classes aimed at offering an introduction to a variety of literary periods, themes and critical vocabularies. This course is collectively taught by all members of Comparative Literature, allowing students to encounter a wide range of 20 th century literature and to experience a diversity of approaches to reading and textual interpretation. The Minor The Department now offers a Minor in Comparative literature. Advanced students of modern languages and literatures have an opportunity to situate their literary studies in a broader and more integrated context. Many students taking a Comparative Literature Minor find that it provides an indispensable background to almost any major in Arts and Humanities.