This article discusses, from a Discourse Analysis perspective, general properties of anthologies, as paradigmatic realizations of compiled writing. Formal distinctions (such as miscellany/anthology) and general characteristics attributed to the genre (for instance, the decontextualization of contents) are questioned and discursive effects of geopolitical-cultural representations in anthologies are also examined. The main claim is that conceiving anthologies as discourse allows us to go further in the comprehension of the genre's materiality and functioning. Illustrations are mainly drawn from anthologies belonging to Hispanic Studies, but references to other contexts are also made. The proposal of a discursive comparative analysis is presented, searching to deepen the comprehension of the anthology's functions as a memory and cultural legacy, an instrument of criticism and a symbolic capital. Results from a case study on bilingual anthologies of Argentinian poetry are presented. To conclude, the relevance of the anthology regarding the notion of cultural trans-nationality is underlined.
anthology; Hispanic studies; discourse analysis; Argentinian poetry