31353 - Anglo-American Literature 3

Learning outcomes

Students will learn the literary history of the period at stake; they will acquire useful literary tools to analyze fictional productions and question them in relation to the complex and heterogeneous North American realities.

Course contents

NORTH AMERICA AND NEW CULTURAL GEOGRAPHIES: 1950-2020

The course is structured into two modules of 30 hours each; the course directors will work in synergy and there will be a unique final exam (see here below).

In addition, the course will host a special seminar on “Saigon Calling: pluricentric memories of a conflict (1975-2025) to remember, discuss and comment on the memories of the Vietnam War fifty years after the fall of Saigon. Students will contribute to the elaboration of (visual) materials for an exhibition to be hosted at LILEC in the frame of a one-day event with experts on the topic.

Part 1 – Canada (Prof. Elena Lamberti, Course Coordinator):

The first module focuses on Canada and investigates the passage from colonial to postcolonial scenarios, questioning the making of diverse cultural and literary canons and trends. The course will therefore probe what was once defined as “the Canadian nobody”, unveiling it as an original yet complex reality that today stands at the forefront of new literary, cultural, transmedia and ethical challenges and counter-narratives.

Main themes: Probing the (old and new) Canadian Mosaic; Postcolonial Canada; Canadian Renaissance; Canadian Postmodernism; Indigenous Voices; Canadian Literature and the 21^st Century.

Among the writers discussed are: Hugh MacLennan; Margaret Atwood; Timothy Findley; Leonard Cohen; Michael Ondaatje; Nino Ricci; Barry Callaghan; Douglas Coupland; Sheila Heiti; Leanne Betasamosake Simpson; Waubgeshig Rice; Cherie Dimaline; Richards Wagamese; Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas; Thuong Vuong-Riddick

Part 2 – USA (Prof. Mattia Arioli, Course Co-Coordinator):

The second module focuses on the USA and investigates how literature portrayed and contributed to the cultural changes and socio-political struggles of the Post-45 period—from the Civil Rights Era to Postmodernism. The course will put literature in dialogue with other arts/media to tackle issues and concerns that are paramount to understand the challenges that the United States is facing at the beginning of the 21^st century.

Main themes: New Journalism; USA Postmodernism; Graphic Journalism; Asian American Literature; Civil Right Movement and Literature.

Among the writers discussed are: Truman Capote; Michael Herr; Ralph Ellison; Toni Morrison; Thomas Pynchon; Kurt Vonnegut; Tim O’Brien; John Okada; Maxine Hong Kingston; D.H. Wang; Andrew Lam; Monique Truong; Don DeLillo; Cormac McCarthy; Art Spiegelman.

Please Notice: This course is organized as part of the sustainability phase of the European Project “PERFORMIGRATIONS: People Are the Territory” (www.performigratios.eu), in the frame of the research project “WeTell: Storytelling and Civic Awareness” (https://site.unibo.it/wetell/en) and in collaboration with the literary portal https://site.unibo.it/canadausa . The main goal is to encourage a new global mentality, deeply rooted in the humanities, so to reorient today geopolitics and create a happier and more just world. No knowledge is useful if it leads to satisfy only a few people’s urgent needs, be that material or emotional; knowledge is useful if it induces us to question our communal existence, helping us to learn how to act upon our community in responsible ways, in turn leading to a truly shared happiness.

Important: EVERYBODY IS WELCOME AND DIVERSITY (IN ALL ITS FORMS) IS WELCOME TOO.

 

Readings/Bibliography

A detailed list of primary and secondary sources will be available when classes start.

Teaching methods

Students’ active participations is strongly encouraged.

Assessment methods

The final exam is structured in two parts. Part 1 differs based on class participation.

Part 1: students who attends classes regularly, will be asked to elaborate (visual) materials for an exhibition to be hosted at LILEC in the frame of a one-day event with experts on the topic. For students who do not attend classes regularly, part one consists in an oral exam (based on the discussion of their essay – see here below part 2 – and the materials posted on the virtuale webpage).

Part 2: Final essay of 3000-3500 words, in English. Students must choose their focus and create a customized reading list, to be assessed by the course directors and including at least three primary sources and three secondary sources (of which, one can be a non-literary one, such as: movies, videogames, music scores, etc.). Essays will be evaluated based on methodology, consistent critical thinking, and a working hypothesis in line with the course themes. Particularly appreciated are: Student’s ability to reorganize course materials into an original critical discourse/perspective; sound reference to American literature, history and culture; Quality and property of the written language (English).

 

Teaching tools

Traditional and Multimedia tools

Links to further information

https://site.unibo.it/wetell/en

Office hours

See the website of Elena Lamberti

See the website of Mattia Arioli