31353 - Anglo-American Literature 3

Learning outcomes

Students will learn the literary history of the period at stake; they will acquire useful literary tools to analyze fictional productions and question them in relation to the complex and heterogeneous North American realities.

Course contents

NORTH AMERICA AND NEW CULTURAL GEOGRAPHIES: 1950-2025

The course is divided into two 30-hour modules, with two instructors working collaboratively and a single final exam.

Part 1 – Canada (Prof. Elena Lamberti, Course Director)

The first module focuses on Canada and explores the transition from colonial to postcolonial times, delving into the evolution of diverse literary canons and trends. It will examine the unique yet complex reality of a nation that, once defined as "the Canadian nobody," has become, over time, a veritable outpost from which to explore the new literary, cultural, transmedia, and ethical challenges of the contemporary world.

Main themes: The (Old and New) Canadian Mosaic; Postcolonial Canada; the Canadian Renaissance; Canadian Postmodernism; Indigenous Literature; Canadian Literature of the 21st Century.

The works examined will include, among others, texts by: Susanna Moodie, Margaret Atwood, Timothy Findley, Leonard Cohen, Michael Ondaatje, Nino Ricci, Douglas Coupland, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Waubgeshig Rice, Cherie Dimaline, Richards Wagamese, Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, Thuong Vuong.

Part 2 – USA (Prof. Mattia Arioli, Course Co-Coordinator)

The second module focuses on the USA and investigates how literature portrayed and contributed to the cultural changes and socio-political struggles of the Post-45 period—from the Civil Rights Era to Postmodernism. The course will put literature in dialogue with other arts/media to tackle issues and concerns that are paramount to understand the challenges that the United States is facing at the beginning of the 21^st century, through the lenses of literature, art and media.

Main themes: New Journalism; US Postmodernism; the raise of the Graphic Novel; Graphic Journalism; Asian American Literature; Civil Right Movement and Literature; Wars and Literature.

The works examined will include, among others, texts by: Truman Capote; Michael Herr; Tim O'Brien; Ralph Ellison; Tony Morrison; Suzan-Lori Parks; Octavia E. Butler, Thomas Pynchon; Kurt Vonnegut; John Okada; Maxine Hong Kingston; D.H. Hwang; Monique Truong; Don DeLillo; Jonathan Safran Foer; Michael Chabon; Art Spiegelman; Joe Sacco; Alison Bechdel.

Please Notice: This course is organized as part of the sustainability phase of the European Project “PERFORMIGRATIONS: People Are the Territory”, in the frame of the research project “WeTell: Storytelling and Civic Awareness” (https://site.unibo.it/wetell/en) and in collaboration with the literary portal https://site.unibo.it/canadausa . The main goal is to encourage a new global mentality, deeply rooted in the humanities, so to reorient today geopolitics and create a happier and more just world. No knowledge is useful if it leads to satisfy only a few people’s urgent needs, be that material or emotional; knowledge is useful if it induces us to question our communal existence, helping us to learn how to act upon our community in responsible ways, in turn leading to a truly shared happiness.

Important: EVERYBODY IS WELCOME AND DIVERSITY (IN ALL ITS FORMS) IS WELCOME TOO.

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 course directors in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

 

Readings/Bibliography

A detailed list of primary and secondary sources will be available in due course and will be posted on the "Virtuale" platform.

Teaching methods

Students’ active participations is strongly encouraged.

Assessment methods

The final exam is structured in two parts.

• Class presentation on one of the topics covered in one of the modules; the presentations will take place after the second module (each presentation will last 15 minutes). Alternatively, students can seat for an oral exam on the course topics, (dates available online).

• Poster/infographic comparing two works chosen by the student, relevant to the reference period (1950-2025). Students will be invited to present the poster and the works (15 minutes); the presentations will take place after the second module for attending students. For non-attending students, the poster will be discussed during the oral exam, (see here above).

 

Teaching tools

Traditional and Multimedia tools

Links to further information

https://site.unibo.it/wetell/en

Office hours

See the website of Elena Lamberti

See the website of Mattia Arioli