30635 - Italian Literature (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is expected to have a deep knowledge on diachronical aspects of the Italian literary tradition, knows the critical discussion on the keys issues about texts and authors and is able to use the main tools of the methodological analysis of texts and contexts.

Course contents

«It is a woman who speaks to you». Female voices and portraits in Italian literature

The course addresses, from a conceptual and thematic point of view, the theme of self-representation and women's voices. In particular:
Alba de Cespedes, È una donna che parla vi, stasera, edited by Valeria Babini, Milan, Mondadori, 2024; Goliarda Sapienza, Università di Rebibbia,Turin, Einaudi, 2012 (or any other edition); Goliarda Sapienza, Le certezze del dubbio, Turin, Einaudi, 2022 (or any other edition); Anna Banti, Artemisia, introduction by Giuseppe Leonelli, Milan, Bompiani, 2001 (rist. 2003) or any other edition; Maria Rosa Cutrufelli, Il cuore affamato delle ragazze, Milan, Mondadori, 2025; Melania G. Mazzucco, Vita, Turin, Einaudi, 2014; Claudia Durastanti, MissItalia, Milan, La nave di Teseo, 2024.

Readings/Bibliography

Readings:

Alba de Cespedes, È una donna che parla vi, stasera, edited by Valeria Babini, Milan, Mondadori, 2024; Goliarda Sapienza, Università di Rebibbia,Turin, Einaudi, 2012 (or any other edition); Goliarda Sapienza, Le certezze del dubbio, Turin, Einaudi, 2022 (or any other edition); Anna Banti, Artemisia, introduction by Giuseppe Leonelli, Milan, Bompiani, 2001 (reprinted in 2003) or any other edition; Maria Rosa Cutrufelli, Il cuore affamato ragazze, Milan, Mondadori, 2025. 2003) or any other edition; Melania G. Mazzucco, Vita, Turin, Einaudi, 2014; Claudia Durastanti, MissItalia, Milan, La nave di Teseo, 2024.

Student programme Modern, comparative and post-colonial literatures:

- Goliarda Sapienza, Università di Rebibbia, Turin, Einaudi, 2012 (or any other edition).

- Goliarda Sapienza, Le certezze del dubbio, Turin, Einaudi, 2022 (or any other edition).

- Maria Rosa Cutrufelli, Il cuore affamato delle ragazze, Milan, Mondadori, 2025.

- Melania G. Mazzucco, Vita, Turin, Einaudi, 2014.

- Claudia Durastanti, MissItalia, Milan, La nave di Teseo, 2024.

Bibliography:

- M. G. Mazzucco, Self-portrait: il museo del mondo delle donne, Turin, Einaudi, 2022 (the chapter dedicated to Giovinezza).

- V. P. Babini, Parole armate: le grandi scrittrici del Novecento italiano tra Resistenza ed emancipazione, Milan, La tartaruga, 2018 (the chapter dedicated to Alba de Cespedes).

- G. Nicotra, Il ‘mal d'Europa’: storie di esuli nella narrativa di Melania Mazzucco [electronic resource], in ‘Bollettino di italianistica : bibliografia e informazione culturale’, 8, 2, 2011, pp. 359-380 (available online on Ezproxy)

- G. Raccis, ‘Artemisia e le altre: il canone italiano del romanzo ’della artista‘’, Narrativa [Online], 44 | 2022, available online http://journals.openedition.org/narrativa/2017.

- M. Rizzarelli, Schermo, schermo delle mie brame... La formazione dello sguardo di Goliarda Sapienza, in ‘Arabesques’, 9, 2017, pp. 32-47 (available online).

- M. Rizzarelli, «Al posto del cervello avevo un grande schermo illuminato». Goliarda Sapienza e i «misteri» del cinema, in «Sinestesie», 20, 2020, pp. 141-155.

- A. Bazzoni, Scrivere la libertà. Corpo, identità e potere in Goliarda Sapienza, Pisa, ETS, 2022. ch. 6 pp. 219-268

- L. Cardone, Goliarda Sapienza attrice nel/del cinema italiano del secondo dopoguerra, in M. Farnetti (ed.), Appassionata Sapienza, Milano, La Tartaruga, 2011, pp. 31-61.

 - V. P. Babini, Parole armate: le grandi scrittrici del Novecento italiano tra Resistenza ed emancipazione, Milan, La Tartaruga, 2018 (the chapter dedicated to Alba de Cespedes).

Two meetings with the authors are planned:

1) M. R. Cutrufelli, presentation of the novel Il cuore affamato delle ragazze, Milan, Mondadori, 2025 tbc

2) Claudia Durastanti, MissItalia, Milan, La nave di Teseo, 2024 tbc
.
Students of the Master's Degree in Letterature moderne, comparate e postcoloniali will read works by Sapienza, Cutrufelli, Mazzucco, Durastanti and the corresponding critical essays.

Please note: Non attending students are required to do the same readings and to study the same bibliography of attending students.

Teaching methods

The course will be divided in frontal lessons and laboratories on the texts. The course participates in the distance learning project (max. 15 hours), therefore some online lectures including meetings with lecturers from foreign universities are planned.

Assessment methods

The exam is an oral interview on the course topics. 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.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch
as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-
dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the
lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Any requests for adjustments must be made within 15 days of the exam date by sending an e-mail to the lecturer and including the e-mail address disabilita@unibo.it in Cc.

Teaching tools

Audio and video aids may be used in support of lectures.

Office hours

See the website of Lara Michelacci