For an Ethic of Discomfort: Studying Canadian Literature(s) from Afar
Abstract
This essay discusses recent changes in Canadian literary studies after the controversies that surrounded “Canada 150”, the sesquicentennial anniversary of the Confederation’s independence celebrated in 2017. Taking Michel Foucault’s “ethic of discomfort” as its cornerstone, it reflects on the disciplinary affiliations of Canadian studies in French universities in comparison to the place they occupy in Canada. The resurgence of Indigenous cultures has caused a re-examination of the field, its shifting borders, and the position of Indigenous Literatures with respect to “CanLit”, an institution shaped by various forces of legitimation among which school syllabi, university curricula, literary journals, publishing rationales, literary awards and radio programs. The essay will finally move on to interrogate some of the options available in France for scholars researching CanLit and the Indigenous Literatures in Canada, two imbricated categories that require researchers to situate themselves as regards the object of their investigation.
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