33940 - Semiotics and Literature (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to analyze literary texts with semiotic methodology

Course contents

The main subjects of the 2018-19 course will be: the definition of “artistic text” (Lotman, Jakobson, Eco, Geninasca, Panosetti); the enunciation in the verbal and visual artistic text (Greimas, Benveniste, Geninasca, Marin, Coquet); the Kitsch and the quality levels of the artistic text (Eco, Pozzato); the role of the reader (Eco, Greimas, Lotman, Geninasca); three types of saisie (interpretation) of the artistic text (Geninasca); the example of the Eco’s analysis of the G. De Nerval’s tale Sylvie; the figures of the literary discourse (Genette); specific tools for the analysis of Tv series, considered as a new literary form (Pozzato, Grignaffini, Mittel); practical exercises with the attendees on different kinds of description within the literary text; instruments for the analysis of poetry, included lyrics of songs (Lotman, Barbieri).

Readings/Bibliography

For all students, the base-text is the manual of Daniela Panosetti, Semiotica letteraria. Teorie e analisi (Carocci 2015). Some other texts will be assigned to attendees depending on the kind of text they have chosen to be analysed. Who doesn't attend the lessons should write to the teacher to communicate if he/she wants to analyze a literary or a poetic text; they have also to choose a second text for the oral part of the exam (see section "assessment methods ")

These are some of the texts that will be illustrated during the lessons of the course:

Jacques Geninasca, La parola letteraria (ed. it. Bompiani 2000)

Denis Bertrand, Basi di semiotica letteraria (ed. it. Meltemi 2001)

Daniela Panosetti, Semiotica del testo letterario (Carocci 2015)

Jurij Lotman, La struttura del testo poetico (Mursia 1990).

Daniele Barbieri, Il linguaggio della poesia (Bompiani 2011) e Nel corso del testo (Bompiani 2004)

Maria Pia Pozzato, Giorgio Grignaffini (a cura) Mondi seriali. Percorsi semiotici nella fiction (Link, RTI, 2007Giorgio Grignaffini, I generi televisivi (Carocci)

Jason Mittel, Complex tv (Minimum fax, ed. it. 2017)

Umberto Eco, Apocalittici e integrati Bompiani 1964

Umberto Eco Sei passeggiate nei boschi narrativi Bompiani 1994

Gérard Génette Figure III, Einaudi 2006

Teaching methods

The tools are the traditional ones (speech, power point, hand out)

Assessment methods

 The attendees (present for at least 2/3 of the lessons) can choose the text to analyze, individually or in group. The theoretical texts that they will have to study will be advised by the teacher according to the text chosen.

Who does not attend, will have to analyze a literary or poetic text (his/her choice). This text will be chosen by the teacher, and there will be also an oral examination on Panosetti's text and on one more text which will be choose with the teacher.

 

Office hours

See the website of Maria Pia Pozzato