28929 - Sociology of Literature (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to analyse examples of social interaction in different contexts, using the conversation analysis and discursive psychology methodologies. Students will learn to analyse interpersonal communication, addressing both verbal and multimodal behaviors (gestures, gazes, postures).

Course contents

AGAINST INTERPRETATION: SUSAN SONTAG'S CRITICAL AND LITERARY WORK

Susan Sontag was one of the sharpest figures of contemporary literary and cultural criticism. From the 1960s to the early 21st century, she wrote about literature, cinema and contemporary art, making herself a ‘cartographer of her time’, refusing to be confined into any current and advocating what she called ‘an erotics of art’. Her analytical capacity is based on a predilection for literary and visual forms that are never divorced from the historical and social aspects, which are fully part of her idea of ‘style’. Alongside her critical activity, Sontag has also produced works that spans the arts, from literature to cinema. The course will therefore attempt to give account of the complexity of the intellectual legacy of an icon of contemporary thought, a tireless observer of western society and its contradictions. Some of her most significant non-fiction and literary works will therefore be taken into consideration, in a continuous confrontation between theory of thought, praxis of interpretation and artistic creation.

Lecture period: Second semester

Timetable, classrooms, starting dates: consult the professor's website.

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 professor in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

I. Critical texts – Students will study the following essays:

• Susan Sontag, “Against Intepretation”, “On Style”, "Nathalie Sarraute and the novel", “Godard's Vivre sa vie di Godard”, “Happenings: an art of radical juxtaposition”, “Notes on Camp”, , in Ead., Against Intepretation and Other Essays, 1966 (Trad. it. Contro l’interpretazione e altri saggi, nottetempo edition, 2022, pp. 17-60, 139-155, 261-277, 349-400).
• Susan Sontag, “The Aesthetics of Silence”, “The Pornographic Imagination”, “Trip to Hanoi”, in Ead. Styles of Radical Will, 1969 (Trad. it. Stili di volontà radicale, nottetempo edition, 2024, pp. 13-96, 245-326).
  
• Susan Sontag, “Under the Sign of Saturn”, in Ead., Under the Sign of Saturn, 1980 (Italian Translation: Sotto il segno di Saturno,  nottetempo edition, 2023, pp. 113-138).
• Susan Sontag, "A Double Destiny", in Ead., At the Same Time, 2007 (Trad. it. “Un doppio destino”, in Ead., Nello stesso tempo. Saggi di letteratura e politica, Mondadori edition, 2008, pp. 32-47).
• Susan Sontag, “In Plato's Cave”, “Melancholy Objects”, in Ead., On Photography, 1977 (Trad. it. "Nella grotta di Platone", "Oggetti melanconici", in Sulla fotografia, one of the Einaudi editions).
• Choose one essay between: Susan Sontag, Illness as a Metaphor, 1978(Trad. it. Malattia come metafora e L’Aids e le sue metafore, nottetempo edition, 2020, pp. 13-118), or Regarding the Pain of Others, 2003 (Trad. it. Davanti al dolore degli altri, nottetempo edition, 2021).

II. Literary Texts

• Short Stories: "Debriefing", "Unguided Tour" (From I, etcetera (1977), Trad. it: Io, eccetera, Mondadori edition, 2001: “Rapporto successivo all’operazione”, “Giro turistico senza guida”), "The Way We Live Now", 1986 (trad. it. Così viviamo ora, La Tartaruga 1996), "Pilgrimage", 1987 (trad. it. Pellegrinaggio, Archinto 1995)
  
• Novel: The Volcano Lover, 1992 (trad. it. L’amante del vulcano, nottetempo edition, 2020)

Not attending students: it is mandatory to study also the following essay: Mena Mitrano, La critica sconfinata. Introduzione al pensiero di Susan Sontag, edizione Quodlibet, 2022.

Teaching methods

The course is based on 30 hours of lectures, during which students will be encouraged to participate and discuss.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

Questions will focus both on the contents and analysis of critical and literary texts. The oral test aims to verify the following: knowledge of the course contents; appropriate linguistic register and the specific lexicon of literary studies; ability to re-elaborate and expand the acquired knowledge, as well as to propose new and individual interpretations.

An insufficient assessment is determined by the absence of a minimum level achieved in the above criteria. A sufficient assessment (18-23/30) is determined by an acceptable level achieved in the above criteria; an average assessment (24-27/30) is given to those who demonstrate a more than sufficient (24-25/30) or good (26-27/30) level achieved in the above criteria; an excellent assessment (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) is assigned to those who demonstrate an excellent level in all the above criteria.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) well in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must be strictly submitted to the professor at least 15 days before the exam. The appropriateness of these suggestions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the professor in relation to the leading objectives.

Teaching tools

Additional materials will be indicated in class and made available on the Virtuale platform.

Office hours

See the website of Beatrice Seligardi