Semiperifera anmärkningar

Abstract

Semiperipheral Notes. A Discussion on the Meaning of Region in World Literature The article discusses how a view from the semi-periphery of the Nordic countries, with specific focus on the region as the scale of analysis, may theoretically challenge world literature. Understanding region as ‘direction’ or orientation suggest a rethinking of what regionality can encompass. The world-system theory of the Warwick Research Collective, which explicitly emphasizes the importance of semi-periphery, is contrasted with postcolonial theory. Although postcolonial theory cannot uncritically be applied in a Nordic context, it may still serve as a more creative stance when investigating the literature of the early 20th century and the importance of vernacularization of national literatures combined with a cosmopolitan attraction.

Keywords

• world literature
• Nordic countries
• critical regionalism
• world system theories