Sufism and Transcendentalism

A Poststructuralist Dialogue Between Rumi and Whitman

Elham Shayegh

The rhetoric of cultural identity generally goes in two potential directions: One a universal line that insists on an overall pattern of integration and harmony among all peoples regardless of their differences, and the other a line which suggests that various cultures are so specific and different that they will eventually enter into clash, violence and war. Drawing upon Derrida's concept of differance, I will point out that such rhetoric as examples of current political discourses fail to open the concept of cultural identity through redefining its relationship with otherness. This will be accompanied by poetry of Rumi and Whitman to suggest that their literary language through its non-dialectic characteristics is familiar with the problematic of identity and has the ability to form a cross-cultural dialogue. Sufism And Transcendentalism envisages the possibility of dialogue against the background of political conflict.

Lexington Books

Pages: 140 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-7936-1601-2 • Hardback • March 2020 • $100.00 • (£77.00)

978-1-7936-1602-9 • eBook • March 2020 • $45.00 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / Middle Eastern

Sufism and Transcendentalism

A Poststructuralist Dialogue Between Rumi and Whitman

Hardback

eBook

Summary

The rhetoric of cultural identity generally goes in two potential directions: One a universal line that insists on an overall pattern of integration and harmony among all peoples regardless of their differences, and the other a line which suggests that various cultures are so specific and different that they will eventually enter into clash, violence and war. Drawing upon Derrida's concept of differance, I will point out that such rhetoric as examples of current political discourses fail to open the concept of cultural identity through redefining its relationship with otherness. This will be accompanied by poetry of Rumi and Whitman to suggest that their literary language through its non-dialectic characteristics is familiar with the problematic of identity and has the ability to form a cross-cultural dialogue. Sufism And Transcendentalism envisages the possibility of dialogue against the background of political conflict.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 140 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-7936-1601-2 • Hardback • March 2020 • $100.00 • (£77.00)

978-1-7936-1602-9 • eBook • March 2020 • $45.00 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / Middle Eastern

Author

Elham Shayegh is associate professor of English at the American University of Armenia.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter I: A Postcolonial Otherness

Chapter II: Logocentrism

Chapter III: Cultural Dialogue

Chapter IV: Compromising Binaries

Chapter V: On Hospitality

Conclusion: A Poststructuralist Otherness

Sufism and Transcendentalism

A Poststructuralist Dialogue Between Rumi and Whitman

Elham Shayegh

Sufism and Transcendentalism

A Poststructuralist Dialogue Between Rumi and Whitman

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