26027 - The Revision Of The Body In Women's Literature

Learning outcomes

Students acquire knowledge of gender studies (theories and methodologies) in diverse cultural contexts whereby the notions of identity and otherness, difference and diversity are analysed with specific reference to the politics of the body. The course intends to favour the capability to deconstruct these notions in diverse texts (theoretical, literary, visual).

Course contents

The Politics of the body and the human/non-human relation in science fiction and critical theories

The body as a source of subjectivity is one of the central political, critical, and poetical spaces that women’s and ‘minority’ groups have reclaimed against patriarchal and metaphysical traditions.

The course will discuss diverse politics of the body in critical theories, fiction and TV series.

Texts: we will discuss literary, critical, and visual texts with specific reference to dystopian novels that expose the body as a crucial issue in the redefinition of the human/non-human/(post)human.

The program is in progress. Please do check this webpage for further notice

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography:

Braidotti, Rosi, The Posthuman, Polity Press, 2013

Butler, Judith, “Introduction: Precarious Life, Grievable Life”, Frames of War: When Is Life Grievable?, London-New York, Verso, 2009, pp. 1-32 (available in the reader).

Butler, Judith, “Preface”, Precarious Life: The Powers of Mourning and Violence, London-New York, Verso, 2006, pp. xi-xxi.

Fanon, Frantz, “Introduction”, Black Skin, White Masks, London, Pluto Press, 2008; First ed. Peau Noire, Masques Blancs, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 1952; pp. 1-7 (available in the reader).

Haraway, Donna J., 2007, “When Species Meet. Introductions”, When Species Meet, Minneapolis-London, University of Minnesota press, pp. 3-42 (available in the reader).

Monticelli, Rita, The Politics of the Body in Women’s Literature,Bologna: Odoya, 2012.

Monticelli, Rita, “Under the Skin:Science Fiction as Posthuman Cultural Ecology”, Immaginare l’impossibile: trame della creatività tra letteratura e scienza, Eds. L. Boi -F. D’Intino -G.V. Distefano, Between, IX.17(2019), http://www.Between-journal.it (online).

Spillers, Hortense J. “Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: An American Grammar Book”, in Diacritics. A Review of ContemporaryCriticism17 (2), 1987, pp. 65-81 (available online); Italian version: “Figli/e di madre, del padre forse: una grammatica Americana”, in Critiche femministe e teorie letterarie. A cura di Raffaella Baccolini; M. Giulia Fabi, Vita Fortunati, Rita Monticelli, Bologna, CLUEB, 1997, pp. 255-279, trad. Lucia Gunella e Rita Monticelli.

Spivak, Gayatri C, 1985, “Can the Subaltern Speak? Speculations on Widow-Sacrifice”, Wedge (Winter-Spring 1985), 7-8:120-130. Issue entitled "The Imperialism of Representation/The Representation of Imperialism". (available online)

Texts:

Atwood, Margaret, The Handmaid's Tale, 1985

Ishiguro, Kazuo, Never Let me Go, 2005

Faber, Michel, Under the Skin, 2000

Winterson, Janette, Frankissstein: A Love Story, 2019

Bibliography and further information will be provided also during the lessons (and then published in the online reading list and program). The course includes both lessons and seminars with the active participation of the students. Students who cannot attend lessons must contact the lecturer during office hours, or via e-mail before the end of the course. Students are requested to check the online program also during the course for further notice and information.

B.A students are not admitted. Erasmus students are requested to contact the lecturer before enrolling in the course.

Teaching methods

Lessons, seminars, discussion in class, students' presentations. Languages: English 

Assessment methods

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

Le studentesse e gli studenti dovranno analizzare 3 testi primari (da scegliersi tra quelli in elenco) e saggi/ capitoli di volumi/articoli da scegliere tra le fonti critiche in elenco per un numero di circa 150 pagine

Students are requested to analyse 3 primary texts (to be chosen amongst the volumes in the Reading list of the primary sources) and articles/essays/chapters (about 150 pages) from the Reading list of the Secondary sources.

All students (divided in groups) are requested to present in class one text (to be chosen in accordance with the lecturers) within diverse critical perspectives, in a date to be confirmed.

Please do check this web page for further notice and information

Active participation in class discussions: 25%. By participation in class we mean the ability of the student to enter the debates, contributing with questions and/or elaborations of the topics proposed by the lecturer. This participation does not aim at testing students' specific preparation in the field, rather, they want to favor their ability to take part in discussions and their capability to discuss in group.

Students' Presentation: 25%. Students are requested to do a group presentation of one text to be chosen from the reading list in accordance with the lecturer.

Final oral exams: 50%

The final oral exam will test the student's critical capability, his/her knowledge of the methodologies employed, her/his ability to combine theories with the analyses of the case studies chosen. The close reading of the texts aims at showing the student's critical ability, their knowledge not only of the texts but also of their context of creation together with the cultural politics that inform them. Students are requested to use an appropriate language, to be able to articulate their thought in English and Italian (high level) and to have an accurate knowledge of the bibliography chosen for the exam.

Grades:

Excellent: Students' high capability to elaborate on the exiting debates on the topics chosen, originality of thought and excellent knowledge of the theories and of the texts chosen for the exam, their ability to read them within a gender perspective, using also the theories employed during the course and showing comprehension of the bibliography chosen, accurate and appropriate language.

Very good level: Students' capability to elaborate on the exiting debates on the topics chosen, originality of thought and very good knowledge of the theories and of the texts chosen for the exam, their ability to read them within a gender perspective, using also the theories employed during the course and showing comprehension of the bibliography chosen, and appropriate, accurate language.

Good level: Students' capability to elaborate on the exiting debates on the topics chosen, knowledge of the theories and of the texts chosen for the exam, their ability to read them within a gender perspective, using also the theories employed during the course and showing comprehension of the bibliography chosen, and appropriate language.

Pass: Students' capability to enter the exiting debates on the topics chosen, knowledge of the theories and of the texts chosen for the exam, their ability to read them within a gender perspective, using also the theories employed during the course and showing comprehension of the bibliography chosen, and appropriate language.

Fail: Student's lack of knowledge of the theories employed during the course, incapability to critical reading of the novels, inappropriate and inaccurate language.

Please do check this web page for further notice and information

Teaching tools

slides, videos

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Cattani