Inventing a future for literary studies: Research and teaching on cultural identity*

Abstract

Summary This paper examines two questions namely, how to describe cultural identity and how to relate cultural identity to literary studies. By way of introduction, a distinction is drawn between globalization and nationalization. Special mention is made of Appa‐durais's suggestion that globalization consists of five cultural flows. The question arises as to which will be the stronger force in the near future: nationalization or globalization. The author defines cultural identity by citing many examples to prove his point. He ponders the question of the relationship between literary studies and the study of literal and cultural identity. New perspectives are offered in conclusion.