CHAOS THEORY IN LITERARY STUDIES Cover Image

Teória chaosu a literárna veda
CHAOS THEORY IN LITERARY STUDIES

Author(s): Karin S. Wozonig
Subject(s): Literary Texts
Published by: Ústav svetovej literatúry, Slovenská akadémia vied
Keywords: Chaos Theory; Kulturwissenschaft; Cultural Analysis; Constructivism; Empirical Literary Studies

Summary/Abstract: Ever since its first formulation in the 1970s the so called chaos theory has held great appeal for the humanities, philosophy and social sciences. Until the late 1990s many literary studies papers inspired by chaos theory included the observation that only time could tell whether the terminological transfer from physics and mathematics could provide an enrichment for the discipline and about the additional insight into literature gained by the adaptation of the scientific concepts. By now one can state that „chaostheoretical“ literary studies have produced some insights into literature and many into the field of literary studies. The adaption of chaos theory by literary studies can be seen as a gauge of selfreflection and -observation of the disciplin. In presenting some similarities as well as differences between chaos theoretically influenced literary studies and literary studies under the paradigm of constructivism, I would like to demonstrate the mechanisms of cultural selfreflection and -assurance by means of literary studies.

  • Issue Year: 2007
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 35-43
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Slovak