02609 - Contemporary Italian Literature (G-N)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this class, students are expected to achieve a wide knowledge of Italian Twentieth-Century literature, with a main focus on relationships between literature and sociology, anthropology and civilization; the course load goes together with general notions in criticism and textual analysis, in formal, structural, compositional matters, and in their reception as well. During the course students become able to analyze by themselves texts belonging to the contemporary Italian literary tradition.

Course contents

The course is worth twelve credits, amounting to 60 hours (30 lectures, 2 hours each). The first week will be introductory and dedicated to the presentation of the authors whose novels will be discussed during the course. In subsequent weeks we will approach their works with closer and deeper reading and analysis.
The main topic will be an analysis of books, essays and novels written by italian intellectuals after a short (or non-so-short) journey through North America and Mexico in XXth and XXIst Century. The "myth" of America has been a major force in European literature and the study of it will involve not only literature but also visual arts, photography, cinema, architecture.

Readings/Bibliography

Literary texts:

Students will fully read three of the following books:

a) Giuseppe Giacosa, Impressioni d'America (1899), Franco Muzzio Editore, 1994

b) Emilio Salgari, Le meraviglie del Duemila (1907), Massa, Transeuropa, 2017

c) Emilio Cecchi, Messico (1932), Milano, Adelphi, 1985

d) Mario Soldati, America primo amore (1935), edit S. S. Nigro, Palermo, Sellerio, 2003

e) Cesare Pavese, Paesi tuoi (1941), Torino, Einaudi

f) Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (1953 edition, anastatic reprint) Milano, Rizzoli, 2007

g) Italo Calvino, Corrispondenze dagli Stati Uniti (1960-1961), in Italo Calvino, Saggi, edit Mario Barenghi, vol. II, pp. 2499-2679, Milano, Mondadori

h) Goffredo Parise, Odore d'America, Milano, Mondandori 1990

i) Giorgio Vasta - Ramak Fazel, Absolutely nothing. Storie e sparizioni nei deserti americani, Macerata, Quodlibet, 2016

 

Students will also fully read two of the following:

Critical essays:

a) Giulia Guarnieri, Narrative di viaggio urbano: mito e anti-mito della metropoli americana, Bologna, Bononia University Press, 2006

b) Matteo Meschiari, Spazi Uniti d'America, Macerata, Quodlibet, 2013

c) Jean Baudrillard, America, ES, Milano, 2000

d) Franco Moretti, Un paese lontano. Cinque lezioni sulla cultura americana, Torino, Einaudi, 2019

Students who attend the course for six credits are expected to choose and study two books from the first section (literary texts) and one from the second (Critical essays).

The students who cannot attend the course will also read: Rem Koolhaas, Delirious New York. Un manifesto retroattivo per Manhattan (1975), Milano, Electa, 2000.

 

Most of the books in this bibliography are available at Libreria Ubik – via Irnerio 27, or can also be found in the FICLIT Library, the BDU Library, the BUB Library: please check the National OPAC website (www.sbn.it) or the Polo Bolognese OPAC website (https://sol.unibo.it).

 

Teaching methods

The professor will hold 30 lectures of 2 hours each. Discussion will be encouraged immediately after.

Timetable:

Tuesday 3,00 - 5, 00 P.M. SALA BERTI
Via Ludovico Berti, 2/7 - Bologna

Thursday 9,00 - 11,00  A.M. SALA BERTI
Via Ludovico Berti, 2/7 - Bologna

Friday 11,00 - 1,00 P.M. SALA BERTI
Via Ludovico Berti, 2/7 - Bologna

Lessons begins on:

Tuesday, February 5th, 2019  (II semester)

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 atttachment at least 10 days before the oral test.
The oral test consists in an oral interview which has the aim of evaluating the critical and methodological ability of the students. The students will be invited to discuss the tests on the course programme. The student must demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of the bibliography in the course programme. Those students who are able to demonstrate a wide and systematic understanding of the issues covered during the lessons, are able to use these critically and who master the field-specific language of the discipline will be given a mark of excellence.
Those students who demonstrate a mnemonic knowledge of the subject with a more superficial analytical ability and ability to synthesize, a correct command of the language but not always appropriate, will be given a ‘fair' mark. A superficial knowledge and understanding of the material, a scarce analytical and expressive ability that is not always appropriate will be rewarded with a pass mark or just above a pass mark.

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC, overhead projector, eventually slides and notes from the lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Luigi Weber