What is concise and precise definition of literature as a social science subject?

Literature as a social science subject analyzes texts to understand how cultural and societal forces shape human thought, behavior, and identity.

This is achieved by examining:

* The historical, social, and political contexts in which literary works are produced and consumed.

* The representation of power, gender, race, class, and other social structures within texts.

* The ways in which literature reflects and influences social change.

Literature is therefore seen as a lens through which to understand and interpret the complexities of human society.