81852 - Catalan Literature (LM)

Academic Year 2024/2025

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Modern, Post-Colonial and Comparative Literatures (cod. 0981)

Learning outcomes

The student has a deep knowledge of the contemporary literature in Catalan, with particular regard to the relationships between literary texts and history, language and the arts. She/he is able to use critical methodologies to read and analyze literary texts. In particular, the course will be focused on some literary texts and authors of the XX century.

Course contents

Contents
The course, taught in Italian, aims to explore the debate on postmodernism within philosophy, sociology, and literature. Its objective is to identify and analyze the main literary expressions in the Catalan context from the late 20th century to the present day, with particular attention to the works of Quim Monzó, seen as a quintessential symbol of a narrative trend of subversion in the early stages of postmodernity. It also examines highly contemporary texts by authors such as Marta Rojals, Lucia Pietrelli, Laura Gost, and Alicia Kopf.

Topics

(lezioni frontali)

1.About the literature

2. An Infinite Debate: Modern vs. Postmodern

3. Postmodern (or of postmodernity) Catalan fiction

3.1 Forms

3.1.1 Postmodernity. Between Revolution and Renewal: 1975-2000

3.1.2 Catalan Narrative Beyond Postmodernity? 2000-2022

3.2 Themes and Motifs

3.2.1 Civilization and Barbarism
3.2.2 Leisure, Spectacle, and Play
3.2.3 Lies as Truth
3.2.4 Worlds, Images, Identities

3.3 A Closer Look at Two Authors and Their Works
3.3.1 Quim Monzó Reading and Analysis of an Anthology of Short Stories (1980-2007)
3.3.2 Marta Orriols Reading and Analysis of Dolça introducció al caos (2020)


(laboratorio)

Lab. Body and Literature

  1. Introduction: Gender Studies and Identity

  2. The Poetics of the Body: Poetry, Narrative, and Theatre

  3. Literary Criticism Between Academia and Popularization: The Literary Review

  4. The World of Publishing and Translation: An Italo-Catalan Bridge




 

This course does not require previous knowledge of the Catalan language.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory Readings: (Students can choose the language of reading):

· Quim Monzó: un’antologia di racconti elaborata dalla docente

· Marta Orriols: Dolça introducció al caos (2020) --Dolce introduzione al caos, trad. di Stefania Maria Ciminelli

· Un libro a scelta dallo studente tra i libri elencati di seguito:

Irene Solà

*Canto jo i la muntanya balla (2019)

Et vaig donar ulls i vas mirar les tenebres (2023)

Eva Baltasar

*Permagel (2018)

*Boulder (2020)

*Mamut (2021)

Pilar Codony

Distòcia (2022)

Alicia Kopf

*Germà de gel (2016)

Sebastià Portell

Ariel i els cossos (2019)

Maria Climent

Gina (2019)

Marta Orriols

*Aprendre a parlar amb les plantes (2018)

La possibilitat de dir-ne casa (2023)

Laura Gost

*La cosina gran (2019)

El món es torna senzill (2022)

Lucia Pietrelli

Lítica (2019)

 

 

Recommended Textbooks:

  • Jordi Marrugat: Narrativa catalana de la postmodernitat. Històries, formes i motius, Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, 2014.

  • Vicent Simbor: La narrativa catalana del segle XX, Alzira, Bromera, 2005.

  • Àlex Broch & Joan Cornudella (a cura di): Novel·la catalana avui 1990-2016, Juneda, Fonoll, 2017. 

 

Reference Critical Bibliography:

  • · Francesco Ardolino: «La postmodernità letteraria e culturale», Projecte acadèmic. Pla d’actuació docent i projecte de recerca, 2010, pp. 177-194.

    –––«Per a una història de la literatura catalana a la Postmodernitat», Els Marges 103, Primavera 2014, pp. 88-107.

    · Julià Guillamon: La ciutat interrompuda, Barcelona, Anagrama, 2019.

    · Víctor Martínez-Gil: «El lloc de la literatura en la societat postmoderna», B de Riquer (ed.), Història, política, societat i cultura als Països Catalans, vol. 12, Barcelona, Enciclopèdia Catalana, 1999, pp. 314-325.

    · **Josep Camps & Maria Dacsa: La narrativa catalana al segle XXI, balanç crític, Barcelona, Societat Catalana de Llengua i Literatura (IEC), 2019.

    · John Barth: «La literatura de l’exhauriment» e «La literatura del reompliment», Els Marges, 27-29 gener-setembre de 1983, pp. 269-289. [disponibile in inglese e in italiano]

    · Italo Calvino: Lezioni americane: sei proposte per il prossimo millennio, Milano, Garzanti, 1988.

    · Umberto Eco: Postille a “Il nome della rosa”, Alfabeta, 49, giugno 1983.Further articles will be provided during the course.

 

Teaching methods

Seminar teaching and translation and critical writing workshops. Possibility to participate in introductory activities to the Catalan language.

Assessment methods

Learning assessment will take place through two activities:

  • Writing a critical literary review accompanied by a short translation of an excerpt. The text can be chosen from the books listed under "Compulsory Readings" (30%).

  • An oral exam in Italian lasting about 20 minutes on the course content (70%).

In the oral exam, the following will be evaluated:

  • The coherence of the answers with the questions posed by the instructor.

  • The candidate's ability to present the course content clearly and effectively, using scientifically appropriate vocabulary.

  • The candidate's ability to make connections between the various topics covered.

The evaluation will also take into account active participation in lessons and cultural activities proposed by the instructor.

 

Other Information:

Although not mandatory, attendance at the lectures is strongly recommended. Students are highly encouraged to actively participate in the lessons, as they provide a valuable opportunity to deepen topics and content, interact and engage with the instructor and fellow students, as well as expand their cultural horizons and social life, thus making the study path richer, more effective, and stimulating.

 

 

Teaching tools

Literary and cultural events will be organized in Catalan, Spanish, and Italian, in order to provide a deeper understanding of Catalan culture and language.

Links to further information

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/paula.marques2/

Office hours

See the website of Paula Marques Hernandez

SDGs

Gender equality Reduced inequalities Sustainable cities Climate Action

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.