13338 - Contemporary Italian Literature (A-D)

Academic Year 2021/2022

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student has acquired a working knowledge of wide areas of twentieth-century literary history, with special emphasis on the relation between literature and historical, social, anthropological, and more broadly cultural phenomena. Study is assisted by secondary literature and face-to-face tuition and covers close reading of the text as well as problems of form, structure, composition, and reception.

Readings/Bibliography



The course analyzes some works by Pasolini between the 50s and 70s, putting them in relation with some authors who enter into opposition or consonance with them.

The course also aims to build a concept map of the 900 based on some nuclei of thought that can be traced in the work of Pasolini (e.g.: modernization, progress, youth world, fatherhood, power, politics, anthropological mutation, genocide, representation, reality, truth, etc.).

Sezione monografica:

analisi e intepretazione dei seguenti testi:

1. P.P.Pasolini, Atti mpuri, Amado mio (Garzanti)

2. E. Saba, Ernesto (Einaudi)

3. P.P.Pasolini, Ragazzi di vita (Garzanti)

4. I. Calvino, La nuvola di smog, La formica argentina (Mondadori)

5. P.P.Pasolini, Teorema (Garzanti)

6. L. Sciascia, Todo modo (Adelphi)

7. P.P.Pasolini, Poesia in forma di rosa (Garzanti)

8. P.P.Pasolini, Descrizioni di descrizioni (Garzanti)

The attending students will follow the analyzes conducted by the teacher in class and will prepare the texts indicated in the program.

For non-attending students it will be mandatory to read all the texts in the program in addition to the orientation essay Marco A. Bazzocchi, Alfabeto Pasolini (Carocci 2021, ed. by M.A. Bazzocchi).

For attending students and not, the historical analysis of the 900 contained in Cento anni di letteratura italiana (1910-2010), Torino, Einaudi 2021, ed. by M.A. Bazzocchi, will be essential.

Teaching methods

The course is based on the reading, the analysis and the discussion of the literary texts in biblioghaphy.

Assessment methods

Assessment consists of a viva voce examination aiming to assess the knowledge and critical skills acquired by the candidate during the course.

1. First-class marks will be awarded to candidates who demonstrate an ability to analyse texts in depth and to produce an organic overview of the topics covered in the course. Overall mark between 27 and 30 cum laude (high linguistic ability is required).

2. A mostly mnemonic knowledge of the subject, analytical skills lacking depth, and correct but not always apposite expression will result in a modest mark. Overall mark between 23 and 26.

3. Elementary knowledge, superficial understanding, poor analytical skills, and inapposite expression will lead to a pass or only slightly higher mark. Overall mark between 18 and 22.

4. Gaps in the candidate’s knowledge, inapposite language, and inadequate engagement with the secondary literature offered in the course will result in a fail mark.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Antonio Bazzocchi