72811 - Literature and Media (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Course contents

The course investigates the relationship among literature, cinema, television and new media as transnational narratives. More specifically, we will explore material which would have been analysed under the shed of theory of adaptation (e.g. from novels to movies) as well as transmedia storytelling.

A transmedia story represents the integration of entertainment experiences across a range of different media platforms. A story might spread from literature into cinema, television, the web, and so forth, picking up new consumers as it goes and allowing the most dedicated fans to drill deeper. The fans, in turn, may translate their interests in the franchise into concordances and wikipedia entries, fan fiction, fan films, cosplay, game mods, and a range of other participatory practices that further extend the story world in new directions. Both the commercial and grassroots expansion of narrative universes contribute to a new mode of storytelling, one which is based on an encyclopedic expanse of information which gets put together differently by each individual consumer as well as processed collectively by social networks and online knowledge communities.

In particular, the course will focus on the reception of authors and works that have gained success through international circulation, and on the cultural impact of the images and models of “Italianness” that they promote. Italian literary and audio-visual products circulate in various markets, spreading – at national and international levels – images and models (stereotypes and/or counter-stereotypes) of “Italianness”. Such images of Italy are tightly connected to the processes through which cultural products reiterate certain privileged aspects of Italian life: politics, crime, religious institutions, landscapes, cultural heritage, food, lifestyle, fashion, the entertainment industry, etc.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Roberto Saviano, Gomorra. Viaggio nell'impero economico e nel sogno di dominio della camorra, Mondadori, 2016 (2006)

Gomorra, regia di Matteo Garrone, 2008

Gomorra - La serie, stagioni 1-4, 2014 - in produzione

Giancarlo De Cataldo e Carlo Bonini, Suburra, Einaudi, 2017 (2013)

Suburra, regia di Stefano Sollima, 2015

Suburra- La serie, stagioni, 1-2, 2017 - in produzione

 

Saggi critici:

Giuliana Benvenuti, Il brand Gomorra, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017

Linda Hutcheon, Teoria degli adattamenti, Roma, Armando, 2011

 

Saggi critici:

Linda Hutcheon, Teoria degli adattamenti, Roma, Armando, 2011

Teaching methods

The lessons are, most of all, lectures held by the teacher. During the lessons, students will be encouraged to participate. Finally, students will be invited for some specific issues and for the presentation of some texts and authors.

Assessment methods

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.

Students who demonstrate gaps in their knowledge of the subject matter, inappropriate language use, lack of familiarity with the literature in the programme bibliography will not be given a pass mark.

Teaching tools

The vision of the following materials is complementary of the program:

Gincarlo De Cataldo, Romanzo criminale, Einaudi, 2017 (2002)

Romanzo criminale, regia di Michele Placido, 2005

Romanzo criminale - La serie,stagioni 1-2, 2008 - 2010

In addition to lectures, held by the teacher, audiovisual tools will bthe coursee used to support the teaching. Scholars will also be invited to bring a significant contribution to increase the issues upon which the course focuses.

Office hours

See the website of Giuliana Benvenuti