Peking University August 25: From July 21 to 24, 2016, the 21st World Congress of International Comparative Literature Association (ICLA) was held in the University of Vienna. Zhang Longxi, PKU alumnus and distinguished professor of the Yenching Academy of Peking University, was elected President of ICLA during the closing ceremony.
Vienna
Zhang Longxi, a prominent figure of Chinese ethnic origin in world academia, graduated from Peking University in 1981 with an M.A. in English Literature. After teaching in PKU for two years, he furthered his literary study abroad and finished his Ph.D. in comparative literature at Harvard University. Zhang has long been focusing on trans-culture study and his publications on cultural studies have made great contributions to China's academic circle. He has been elected foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History, and Antiquities and also of Academia Europaea. He is now a Chair Professor of Comparative Literature and Translation at City University of Hong Kong and distinguished professor of the Yenching Academy of Peking University.
Professor Zhang Longxi
Speaking of his election in an international association dominated by Western scholars, Zhang said, “With China’s success in the reform and opening-up policy, especially its remarkable change in economic and social life, more attention has been drawn to China and China’s academic culture from the Western people. The exchange between Chinese scholars and international academia is augmented and the voice of Chinese scholars is becoming more powerful. Electing a Chinese scholar President of ICLA where Western scholars dominated signifies a breakthrough in comparative literature.”
2016 witnessed the 60thanniversary of ICLA. The congress also announced Shen Zhen, China as the host city of the 22nd World Congress of ICLA in 2019.
Background Info:
The International Comparative Literature Association - ICLA (French: Association Internationale de Littérature Comparée - AILC), founded in 1954, is an international organization for international research in the field of comparative literature. The Association seeks to foster the study of literature undertaken from an international point of view and attempts to realize this objective through international cooperation. It organizes international congresses, occurring every three years.
Written by: Li Ruiqi
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
http://news.pku.edu.cn/xwzh/2016-08/10/content_294615.htm
