28991 - Contemporary Italian Literature (LM) (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student understands a literary text in its ideological, structural, and stylistic elements and dialectico-social relationships, with particular attention to cultural semantics and symbolism of language. The student knows how to approach a text through a critico-narratological reading.

Course contents

The course is worth twelve credits, amounting to 60 hours (30 lectures, 2 hours each). The first week will be introductory and dedicated to the presentation of the authors whose novels will be discussed during the course. In the following weeks we will approach their works with closer and deeper reading and analysis.

 

Title: Autofiction, biofiction, autobiography

At the beginning of the successful history of biography as a genre, we find Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Confessions. In this book's prologue, the swiss philosopher announces his will to "show to his human fellows a man, caught in the truth of his nature". He then adds: "that man is me". Rousseau chooses to represent an ordinary story of an ordinary man (not a saint, nor a nobleman, nor even a conqueror); he also highlights the presumed truth of what he recounts. However, lies (or at least suspicions) show up between the lines - to eyes trained to see them. Almost two centuries and a half later, world literature seems to have got back to this old starting point. In 21st century literature, autobiography is well alive under many labels (autofiction, biofiction, autobiography) - kept in life by authors of any kind, sophisticated as well as mainstream. It also represents a huge part of global literary market. This relevance demands for a better understanding of this genre's imagery and literary praxis, which is the aim of this class.

 

Please Note:

Students who are not native speakers of Italian must prepare a shorter program than Italian students. They are also requested to inform the professor of any difficulties understanding the lessons.

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.

Readings/Bibliography

 

Students will fully read:

I) Literary Texts (three books from the following list):

a) Luce D'Eramo, Deviazione (1979), Milano, Feltrinelli

b) Luigi Meneghello, Il dispatrio (1993), Milano, Rizzoli BUR, 2022

c) Rossana Rossanda, La ragazza del secolo scorso, Torino, Einaudi, 2005

d) Vitaliano Trevisan, Works, Torino, Einaudi 2016 o 2022

e) Giorgio Falco, Ipotesi di una sconfitta, Torino, Einaudi 2017

f) Michele Mari, Leggenda privata, Torino, Einaudi 2017

g) Tommaso Giartosio, Autobiogrammatica, Minimum fax, 2023

h) Vincenzo Latronico, La chiave di Berlino, Torino, Einaudi, 2023

 

II) Critical essays:

a) Riccardo Castellana, Finzioni biografiche, Roma, Carocci, 2019

Given the great breadth and variety of the bibliographies on all the authors in the program, precise indications regarding critical texts or essays to accompany the reading will be provided by the professor in class and, when possible, essays will be uploaded onto "Virtual".

Non-attending students will add the reading of: A. Battistini, Lo specchio di Dedalo, Bologna, il Mulino

Students presenting a 6-credit course will have their program shortened, in a way to be agreed with the professor by email or during the dedicated office hours.

 

Texts that are less available, or possibly no longer on stock, are in any case available at the Library of the Department of Classical and Italian Philology or in other libraries of the Polo Bolognese. The locations can be found thanks to the national Opac (www.sbn.it) or the Polo Bolognese Opac (https://sol.unibo.it).

 

Teaching methods

The professor will hold 30 lectures of 2 hours each. Discussion will be encouraged immediately after.

 

Timetable:

Tuesday 3,00 - 5, 00 P.M. (Aula 5 via del Guasto)

Wednesday 9,00 A.M - 11.00 P.M. (Aula 5 via del Guasto)

Friday 9,00 A.M - 11.00 P.M. (Aula 5 via del Guasto)

Lessons begins on I semester

Assessment methods

The 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 texts 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 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) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC, overhead projector, possibly slides and notes from the lessons. Essays from open access literary journals.

Office hours

See the website of Luigi Weber