Critical Discourse in Odia

This book provides English translations of key writings in literary and cultural studies from late-nineteenth to early-twenty-first century, exploring the complex interconnections between socio-historical events in Odisha and the language movement. It is essential for scholars and researchers of Odia language and literature, literary criticism, literary theory, comparative literature, Indian literature, cultural studies, art and aesthetics, performance studies, history, sociology, regional studies, and South Asian studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume, a part of the Critical Discourses in South Asia series, delves into the intricate tapestry of Odia literature and its critical heritage spanning a century. It provides invaluable insights into the genesis and evolution of Odia literature, shedding light on the diverse literary, theoretical, aesthetic, and performative traditions that have shaped its development. The book brings together a collection of English translations of significant writings by influential figures who have made profound contributions to literary criticism, theory, aesthetics, and the re-interpretation of fundamental concepts and categories in Odia. Spanning from the late-nineteenth to the early-twenty-first century, these seminal essays explore the intricate web of socio-historical events in Odisha during the colonial and post-Independence periods, intricately intertwined with the language movement. They delve into profound themes such as the evolving concept of literature, the criteria for critical evaluation, the revision and expansion of the literary canon, the transition from oral traditions to print, the emergence of new reading practices that have shaped aesthetic sensibilities, the dialectics of tradition and modernity, and the formation, consolidation, and political consequences of language-based identities.

Comprehensive and meticulously researched, this volume serves as a comprehensive overview of the history of critical thought in Odia literature within the broader context of South Asia. It is an indispensable resource for scholars and researchers specializing in Odia language and literature, literary criticism, literary theory, comparative literature, Indian literature, cultural studies, art and aesthetics, performance studies, history, sociology, regional studies, and South Asian studies. Moreover, it will captivate the Odia-speaking diaspora and those engaged in the intellectual history of Odisha and Eastern India, as well as those interested in preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of this region.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032124858