14057 - Comparative Literatures (1) (A-L)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Humanities (cod. 8850)

    Also valid for First cycle degree programme (L) in Humanities (cod. 8850)

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course in Comparative literatures, via the careful analysis of significant works of western literature, students acquire the knowledge allowing them to deal with some of the main methodological nuclei of comparative studies; from the examination of the close intertwining existing between different national cultures, to the study of the complex relationships between literature and other languages (be they those of science, philosophy or criticism, or expressive ones such as painting, music, photography, theatre, cinema), up to the reconstruction of the recurrence of long lasting literary themes, spanning multiple nationalities.

Course contents


Course contents

Identity and splitting: the theme of twins

Starting from Plautus’s Menaechmi, the theme of twins surfaces with extraordinary frequency in western literature and cinema. During the course texts whose plots pivot on pairs of twins will be analysed; an attempt will be made to outline permanence and variations of twin pair throughout the centuries.

Readings/Bibliography

 

Readings/Bibliography

Literary texts

T. M. Plautus: Menaechmi [mandatory]

C. Goldoni: I due gemelli veneziani

G. Sand: La petite Fadette

M. Tournier: Les Météores [mandatory]

B. Chatwin: On the Black Hill

A Kristof: Trilogie des jumeaux

Z. Smith: White Teeth

M. Fois: L'importanza dei luoghi comuni

G. Falco: La gemella H

L. Pugno: La ragazza selvaggia

Films

C. Bernhardt: A Stolen Life

R. Siodmak: The Dark Mirror

B. De Palma: Sisters

D. Cronenberg: Dead Ringers

E. De Angelis: Indivisibili

Theoretical Texts

S. Freud: Zur Einführung des Narzißmus and Das Unheimliche

J. Lacan: Le stade du miroir comme formateur de la fonction du Je

R. Zazzo: Le paradoxe des jumeaux

As well as the theoretical texts proposed, students aiming at taking the 12 Credit exam shall have to read T. M. Plautus: Menaechmi and Michel Tourniers Les Météores and the works by five other authors amongst the ten listed.

Students aiming at taking the 6 credit exam will have to read, as well as the theoretical texts, and T. M. Plautus: Menaechmi together with Michel Tournier’s Les Météores, three texts chosen amongst the ten listed.

Non-attending students will have to read also Massimo Recalcati: Il gesto di Caino (in addition, obviously, to other texts listed).




Teaching methods

Teaching methods

The course is based upon around 60 hours of lectures: students are invited to actively take part during the lectures and debate the subjects put forward.

Assessment methods

 

Assessment methods

The final exam, consisting of face to face interviews, aims at verifying knowledge acquired through the reading of the works proposed and assess students’ critical skills. The students’ capacity to navigate literary and critical texts, contextualising them appropriately, shall be evaluated. An assessment of excellence will indicate an hermeneutical capacity on the part of the student to create connections between literary and critical texts, together with ascertained expository skills. Possible gaps in knowledge on matters discussed during the course and inappropriate, or confused language will entail low marks.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools

Lectures will make use of PPTs, as well as film viewings. Any additional teaching material shall be made available to students on the site (link ‘Teaching tools – Materiale didattico)

Office hours

See the website of Ferdinando Amigoni