96300 - Communicating the World Literature (Lm)

Learning outcomes

The seminar aims to provide the students with tools that will enable them to promote and disseminate literary culture on the territory, reflecting on the nowadays much used (and abused) concept of World Literature in a mature and critical way. Through a multi- and inter-disciplinary didactic approach, the student learns a methodology suitable for distinguishing and interpreting the various meanings attributed to the term, past and present standpoints of scholars and critics, the relations of World Literature with globalization, history, memory, orality and indigenous voices, translation, and the publishing market. A transversal path will be proposed to focus issues of cultural communication, offering strategies which will be useful also in a professionalizing perspective.

Course contents

The seminar originates from the research work of the members of CLOPEx (Centro studi sulle letterature omeoglotte dei paesi extraeuropei) and aims to investigate the definitions and potentialities of World Literature, with the active participation of students and with actions of public engagement (organization of events, meetings, conferences, etc.) in a professionalizing perspective. These are some of the topics covered:

• WL: Theory and methodology;

• World Literature, the canon, rewritings

• WL: ethics and globalization;

• World Poetry;

• World Literature and the Global South;

• Transmediality and WL.

 

The seminar is divided into two parts:

a) Theoretical Part

Lessons held by different teachers to enhance the plurality of approaches to World Literature and its function in the interconnected reality, which is culturally, sociologically and technologically complex. The aim is to facilitate the acquisition of theories and skills useful for the training of new humanists interested in developing original and inclusive paths of cultural planning and promotion, interculturality and transmediality.

b) Training

For the academic year 2024_2025, the seminar continues to organize cultural events in the frame of the project of public engagement “LITERATURE (and/in/of) the WORLD” coordinated by CLOPEx. The goal is to create events of public interest in collaboration with local bodies, institutions, associations, museums, Departments or structures outside the University, fostering cultural networking. Starting from a dynamic and active idea of “World Literature”, the project connects professors and researchers with professional figures active in the territory (national and international) on topics proposed in narratives from/in/about the contemporary world today at the center of public debate. In particular, the aim is to investigate topics related to the seventeen objectives for sustainable development as per the UNESCO Agenda 2023, including: social justice, diversity, climate change, gender equality, quality education, equitable development, sustainable cities.

Readings/Bibliography

• S. Albertazzi (a cura di), Introduzione alla World Literature, Roma, Carocci 2021.
• G. Benvenuti, R. Ceserani, La letteratura nell’età globale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012.

Teaching methods

Lectures and workshops

Assessment methods

The final exam is closely linked to the organization of cultural and literary events within the project “LITERATURE (and/in/of) THE WORLD” coordinated by CLOPEx (choice of texts, management of speakers/relations with institutions; preparation of press releases and journalism; preparation of information brochures). For these reasons, although it is not mandatory, attendance is strongly encouraged, precisely because of the training nature of the seminar.

For students who choose this seminar but do not attend it, the final exam consists in the articulation of an editorial proposal in the context of World Literature/Public Engagement to be presented at least one week before the oral exam. The oral exam will focus on the discussion of the proposal presented and on the theoretical knowledge acquired starting from the two texts indicated in the bibliography.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Lamberti