Dr. Barbara Agnese

Biography

Barbara Agnese is a recognized scholar in the field of comparative literature, particularly noted for her interdisciplinary teaching and individualized mentoring that leads students toward excellence. Agnese has trained in language philosophy at prestigious institutions such as the University of Pisa, Frankfurt, and Vienna. Upon joining the Université de Montréal, she has continued to teach comparative literature, contributing valuable insights from her experience at the University of Vienna and Université de Paris III. Her scholarly work engages with literary traditions spanning French, German, Austrian, and Italian contexts, tackling issues in aesthetics and translation. Currently, her research focuses on European literary magazines from the 1920s to the 1950s, exploring themes of plurilingualism, exile, and exophony. Agnese’s varied affiliations underscore her commitment to comparative studies and her investment in contemporary literary issues. She supervises graduate students, guiding research projects that address significant literary concerns, including Holocaust literature, adaptation in theater, and the complexities of multilingual narratives. Her work is situated within a broader exploration of how literary expression interacts with historical trauma and cultural memory.

Research Interests