EvenZohar

Even Zohar is a prominent scholar of comparative literature and cultural studies, best known for his theories on polysystem theory and the cultural dominance of center and periphery. Born in 1936, Zohar's work has significantly influenced how literature and culture are understood in their broader social and political contexts.

Polysystem theory, developed by Zohar and his colleague Itamar Even-Zohar, posits that literature can be viewed as a "polysystem," a complex structure of interconnected systems. Within this system, various literary traditions, genres, and even translated works interact and compete. The theory emphasizes that the position and function of a literary work within the polysystem are more important than its intrinsic qualities. For instance, translated literature, often considered secondary in some contexts, can play a crucial role in shaping the literary norms of a recipient culture, especially when the recipient culture is in a peripheral position.

Zohar's concept of the center and periphery describes the dynamics of cultural influence. Centers are dominant cultural forces, often national or imperial, that produce and disseminate cultural products. Peripheries are less dominant cultures that are receptive to and often influenced by the center. He argues that the relationship between center and periphery is not static and that peripheral cultures can gain autonomy and even exert influence over the center through various mechanisms, including the strategic incorporation of foreign cultural elements. His work has been particularly influential in the study of Hebrew literature and its position within international literary currents.