31609 - Japanese Culture and Literature 2

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should deepen their competence in Japanese literary history, through analysis of general issues (periodization, literary movements and schools). They should also be acquainted with the latest methods and analytical tools they need to understand the works of the main authors, contextualising them within their cultural and historical period.

Course contents

Mapping Metropolitan Space in Twenty Century's Japanese Literature
The course focuses on relation between writing and urban space in modern and contemporary Japanese literature. The primary aim is to provide students with some basic tools to approach literary texts, both in terms of linguistic analysis and of historical/cultural contexts, in order to facilitate the understanding of the most representative authors and texts. This will also enable us to meditate on the problems related to the identity representation in modern and "post-modern" Japanese writings, and to delve into social/cultural transformations, critical issues, tradition and innovation dynamics.Every text could be read as "urban novel"(toshi shōsetsu), a narration where metropolitan and literary spaces constantly intertwine and cross, concurring to build form and meaning.

Students who choose not to attend the course will find all informations under the heading "Recommended reading".

Students who choose to take this class as "Japanese Literature 3" will prepare a Powerpoint presentation focused on a topic related to the course contents or to their research for dissertation.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for all students (attending students and non-attending students):
Students are expected to show a basic knowledge of the history of Japanese literature since 1968.Our reference text is:

L. Bienati, P. Scrolavezza, La narrativa giapponese moderna e contemporanea , Collana "Elementi", Marsilio, Venezia 2009
Critical sources (compulsory)

M.R. Novielli, P. Scrolavezza,Lo schermo scritto. Letteratura e cinema in Giappone, Cafoscarina Editrice, Venezia 2012

A selection of articles and essays that will be available by the the end of november at photocopy shop "Ecrire" (via Cartoleria, 18)

Primary sources (compulsory: students must choose and fully read one novel by every author):

Okamoto Kido,Detective Hanshichi. I misteri della città di Edo, vol. I, O barra O Edizioni, Milano 2011

Okamoto Kido,Detective Hanshichi. Indagini nelle strade didi Edo, vol. II, O barra O Edizioni, Milano 2011

Mori Ōgai,Il Romanticismo e l'Effimero. La trilogia tedesca, a cura di M. Mastrangelo, Go Book, Milano,

Natsume Sōseki, Il cuore delle cose, Neri Pozza, Vicenza, 2006

Natsume Sōseki, E poi, Neri Pozza, Vicenza, 2012

Nagai Kafū, Al giardino delle peonie, a cura di L. Bienati, Marsilio, 2000

Tanizaki Jun'ichiro,Storie di Yokohama. Tre racconti, a cura di L. Bienati, Cafoscarina, Venezia,

Tanizaki Jun'ichiro,L'amore di uno sciocco, Bompiani, Milano, 2000

Tanizaki Jun'ichiro,Storia di Tomoda e Matsunaga, Marsilio, Venezia, 1996

Edogawa Ranpo,La belva nell'ombra, Marsilio, Venezia, 2002

Kawabata Yasunari,La banda di Asakusa, Einaudi, Torino, 2007

Hayashi Fumiko,Lampi, Marsilio, Venezia, 2011

Dazai Osamu, Il sole si spegne,Feltrinelli, Milano, 2009

Dazai Osamu, Lo squalificato, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2009

Abe Kōbō,L'arca ciliegio, Spirali, Milano, 1997

Abe Kōbō,L'uomo-scatola, Einaudi, Torino, 1992

Abe Kōbō,La donna di sabbia, Guanda, Milano, 2012

Nakagami Kenji,Mille anni di piacere, Einaudi, Torino, 2007

Ōe Kenzaburō,Il grido silenzioso, Garzanti, Milano, 1999

Ōe Kenzaburō,L'animale da allevamento(available in photocopy with the handout)

Murakami Ryu,Tokyo Soup, Mondadori, Milano, 2007

Murakami Ryu,Tokyo Decadence, Mondadori, Milano, 2006

Murakami Ryu,Blu quasi trasparente(available in photocopy with the handout)

Murakami Haruki,Underground, Einaudi, Torino, 2011

Murakami Haruki,Dance dance dance, Einaudi, Torino, 2005

Murakami Haruki, 1Q84, Einaudi, Torino, 2011

Yamada Eimi,Occhi nella notte, Marsilio, Venezia, 1996

Yoshimoto Banana,Kitchen,Feltrinelli, Milano, 2008

Yoshimoto Banana,Chie-chan e io, Feltrinelli, Milano, 2008

Kirino Natsuo,Grotesque, Neri Pozza, Vicenza, 2012

Kirino Natsuo,Le quattro casalinghe di Tokyo, Neri Pozza, Vicenza, 2010

Kirino Natsuo,L'isola dei naufraghi,Giano, Vicenza, 2010

Miyabe Miyuki,Il passato di Shoko, Fanucci Editore, Roma, 2008

Ogawa Yoko,Profumo di ghiaccio, Il Saggiatore, Milano, 2012

Taguchi Randy, Mosaico, Fazi Editore, Roma, 2008

Tawada Yoko,Il bagno(il testo verrà reso disponibile in fotocopia)

Ogawa Ito,Il ristorante dell'amore ritrovato, Neri Pozza, Vicenza, 2010

The Powerpoint files that will be used during the course will be available for students by the end of the course on the AMS Campus website.

Students who choose not to attend the course will also reada selection of articles and essays that will be available by the the end of november at photocopy shop "Ecrire" (via Cartoleria, 18)

Teaching methods

The course will consist mainly in lectures held by the teacher, but students are expected to take active part in the discussion.

Assessment methods

The exam will be oral.

Teaching tools

Slides, video, multi-media supports. A series of films related to the texts in this syllabus will be shown and discussed during classes. The list will be published by the beginning of the lessons.
In addition to class lectures, a series of conferences held by national as well as international scholars will be organized, whose active involvement is very much encouraged and will positively influence the final grade.

The Powerpoint files used during the course will be available for students on the AMS Campus website.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Scrolavezza