Comparative Literature is always in a state of questioning its identity; the forthcoming Worlds of Comparative Literature: The ACLA State of the Discipline Report contains 448 pages on the issue. Recent work on Asia and Latin America has included perspectives on comparative literature as well. For example, Andrea Bachner and Pedro Erber propose that transpacific studies involve a method of comparison that can go beyond geopolitically-oriented perspectives. In “Asia-Latin America as Method,” Junyoung Verónica Kim argues for decentering the West in comparative studies. This panel asks how studies of Asia-Latin America, and transpacific studies more generally, can inform our conception and practice of comparative literature. Papers ranging from the theoretical to specific comparative studies are welcome. 

Possible topics include, but are not limited to: 

• Asia-Latin America as method
• colonial and postcolonial relations across the Pacific
• immigration and diaspora
• influences and cultural appropriation
• material culture
• oceans / blue criticism
• Pacific Rim
• transpacific theory and comparative literature theory
• travel literature