12805 - History of English Culture

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students will have a wide overview of the main  historical, geographical and social aspects and contexts of British Culture from the end of world war two to the end of the second millennium. The students will also be able to contextualize and analyze various texts and documents, placing them in relationship with the most relevant and significant changes of the cultural and linguistic area of reference

Course contents

Songs as cultural vehicles: John Lennon and Leonard Cohen

The aim of the course is to analyse the cultural importance of songs by referring to the carreers of two great authors of the second half of the XXth Century: British John Lennon and Canadian Leonard Cohen. 

Their works will be examined as products of their own times and socio-cultural realities, by using tools and methodologies of Cultural Studies.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COURSE IS IN ITALIAN.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory readings for all the students:

M. Cometa, Studi Culturali, Napoli, Guida, 2011 (preface, second part - paragraphs 1, 2,3,4 - and 4th part). 

S. Albertazzi (a cura di), John Lennon. E ora sto dicendo Pace, Arenzano (GE), Castel Negrino, 2022.

S. Albertazzi, Leonard Cohen. Manuale per vivere nella sconfitta, Vedano al Lambro, Paginauno, 2018 (chapter 3).

A list of songs and video dealt with during the lessons will be uploaded on Virtuale at the end of the course together with other teaching materials and slides. 

During the lessons the teacher will refer to authors, movements and videos of Lennon's and Cohen's times, from Britain and from Canada. The list of these materials will be published at the end of the course on Virtuale. All the students must know these materials.

ERASMUS AND OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND ALL THE STUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEND REGULARLY ARE KINDLY ASKED TO CONTACT THE TEACHER TO ARRANGE WITH HER A DIFFERENT PROGRAMME.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures will be alternated with a seminar approach, encouraging students to participate in the discussion of books, films, songs and other documents and texts. The students will be asked to do research online and to make presentations on the subjects of the course.

The lessons are in Italian.

The students must be fluent in Italian in order to attend this course.

Assessment methods

The oral exam evaluates the critical and methodological ability of the students in relating to British cultural history the texts, authors, events and movements analysed during the course. The student must demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of the bibliography used during the course and added to the course program.

The students who are able to show a wide and systematic understanding of the issues covered during the course, and are able to use them critically and who master the field-specific culture and history of the discipline will be given a mark of excellence.

The students who demonstrate a mnemonic knowledge of the subject with a more superficial analytical ability and ability to synthesize, a correct but not always appropriate command of the language , will be given a ‘fair' mark.

A superficial knowledge and understanding of the material, a scarce analytical and expressive ability , a language that is not always appropriate will be rewarded with a pass mark or just above a pass mark.

Students who show 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

Traditional lectures with reading and analysis of documents and texts will be alternated with an approach on seminar base, encouraging students to participate in class discussion ando to do research and make presentations.

 Video and Audio supports will be used.

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Albertazzi