02609 - Contemporary Italian Literature (A-F)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student: has a non-abstract and non-manualistic awareness of the main lines of development of Italian literary culture from National Unity to the present day; knows how to apply appropriate methods of analysis to the literary text in prose and verse, distinguishing its relations with different linguistic, artistic and cultural traditions; is able to read the literary text as an open form, in dialogue with the ideological and social horizon of his time, against the background of the wider European context.

Course contents

Literature between Art and Cinema

This course explores the relationship between literature and the visual arts, particularly painting and cinema, from the second half of the twentieth century to the present day. Literature has always engaged in exchanges and interactions with other media; since the nineteenth century, these have increased thanks to the invention of photography, cinema, television and, finally, digital media. In the contemporary era, writers have inevitably engaged with new artistic forms, blending them into their own works. Literature has evolved in response to the new expressive possibilities and visual worlds provided by other media, but it has also provided fundamental creative inspiration for the new arts (as in the case of film adaptations).

An analysis of literary works from the post-war period to the present day allows us to observe the various ways in which literary tradition has been revisited, reconfigured and transformed in texts that engage with a cultural landscape increasingly dominated by visual culture. During the course, literary works will be examined from an interdisciplinary and intercultural perspective, highlighting their interaction with other media, particularly cinema.

The topics addressed during the course include: 1) literature and the visual arts; 2) intermediality and transmediality; 3) multiple talents; 4) film adaptations; 5) issues of visual culture

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

The students have to read the following books:

 

Literary works:

- Pier Paolo Pasolini, Ragazzi di vita, Garzanti, Milano, 1955 (ristampa 2009)

- Albert Moravia, La noia, Bompiani, Milano, 1960 (ristampa 2017)

- Leonardo Sciascia, A ciascuno il suo, Torino, Einaudi, 1966; poi Adelphi, Milano, 2000

- Giorgio Bassani, Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini, Einaudi, Torino 1962; poi Feltrinelli, Milano, 2026

- Gianni Celati, Verso la foce, Feltrinelli, Milano, 1989 (ristampa 2009)

- Goliarda Sapienza, Io, Jean Gabin, Einaudi, Torino, 2010 (postumo)

Critical essays:

- Letteratura italiana dal 1895 a oggi. Una storia intermediale, a cura di Giuliana Benvenuti, Torino, Einaudi, 2025 [capitoli 3, 4 e 5]

- Emiliano Morreale, Il cinema era tutto. Scrittori italiani davanti al grande schermo, Torino, Einaudi, 2026 [capitoli da definire]

- Tutti i materiali didattici caricati sulla piattaforma VIRTUALE

 

Non-attending students add:

La letteratura italiana dal 1895 a oggi. Una storia intermediale, a cura di Giuliana Benvenuti, Torino, Einaudi, 2025 [the whole book]

Teaching methods

Lessons, class discussion, active participation in class, videos, power points, movies.

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Assessment methods

The written test consists - only for non-italian students - in a paper (8-10 pages) about one or more arguments of the course. The paper must be previuosly approved by the teacher and must be send with an e-mail attachment at least a week before the oral test.

The oral test consists in an oral interview to evaluating the critical and methodological ability of the students. The studentwill be invited to discuss the scheduled books. The student must demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of the bibliography.

Students that have to take 6 CFU exam will arrange only the program of Modulo I or Modulo II and critical essays.

Assessment consists in an examination aiming to assess the knowledge and critical skills acquired by the candidate during the course.

 

About AI: AI can be a useful tool to support independent study by providing in-depth analysis, summaries and self-assessment exercises. In terms of learning assessment, the use of AI is forbidden during in-person examinations. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

In addition to lectures, held by the teacher, audiovisual tools will be used to support the teaching. Students will also be invited to bring a significant contribution to enreach the issues upon which the course focuses.

Office hours

See the website of Filippo Milani