LITERARY LANGUAGES (JAPAN)

This is one of the "integrative" courses of the "humanities" track within the "Japan" curriculum of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in "Language, Culture and Society of Asia and Mediterranea Africa".
The course contributes to the attainment of the teaching goals of the Corso di Laurea in the area of language skills, but it also invests the cultural and humanities areas.
This course contributes to:
- the linguistic preparation aimed at understanding critically the cultural heritage of the countries of East Asia (in this case: Japan)
- the use of language compentences in reading and interpreting texts in the student's language of study;
- the attainment of specific abilities in finding and interpreting data to elaborate answers to specific theoretical and practical problems.

The class aims to provide notions and abilities pertaining the reading, study, interpretation and translation of literary texts (in general) and literary texts in Japanese (in particular).

Knowledge and understanding:
- to know the principal tools for bibliographical research in the field of Japanese literature studies
- to know a number of tools of the academic discourse in the field of Japanese literature studies
- acquire a number of concepts and tools for literary critique and textual analysis

Applying knowledge and understanding:
- to be able to apply formal and practcial notions for bibliographical research, references organizing, reading of academic texts, academic writing
- to be able to apply concepts and tools for literary critique and textual analysis to literary texts written in Japanese

Communication:
- to master a number of formal rules in the writing of a reference list
- to master a numer of formal rules and rhetorical techniques in writing short academic essays

Autonomy of judgement:
- to be able to establish a hierarchy between the sources
- to be able to produce a personal, persuasive and well-researched argument regarding the literary texts that will be analyzed

The ideal target of this class are those students who (regardless of the exams they have passed or the classes they have attended before) have attained the teaching goals expected by the end of the first two years of the "Japan" curriculum.
More specifically, they are required to possess:
- a Japanese language level corresponding to that attained with the class "Japanese language 2.2".
- an adequate knowledge of the history of Japanese literature (corresponding to the classes "Japanese literature" 1, 2 and 3)
- a very basic knowledge of literary Japanese ("bungo") (corresponding to the class "History of Japanese language")

For their individual study and the completion of the assignments of this class, the students are strongly advised to have access to a personal computer. Activities such as bibliographical research and academic writing (which are part of the class and will be required to students) are nearly impossible by using a smartphone.

++++ in light of the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, the students are also advised to make sure they will have access to the technological tools required for distance learning (internet connection and a device with a webcam and a mic++++

The class comprises four teaching blocks, which wil be introduced at a genaral/theoretical level and then applied to the study of literary texts in Japanese:

1) bibliographical research and organizing the references
2) reading and understanding an academic essay on a literary text
3) reading, analyizing and translating a literary text
4) writing an academic essay on a literary text

The students are required to complete a mid-class assignment (individually or by groups, depending on the number of enrolled students) for each one of these blocks. The assignments will contribute to the final evaluation of the "frequentanti".

This class will use mainly case studies from modern Japanese literature (1868-1945), with a special focus on poetry. However, texts from other textual typologies and from other historical periods may be also considered.

1) bibliographical research and organizing the references

- vademecum for bibliographical research provided by the teacher

2) reading and understanding an academic essay on a literary text

- academic articles on Japanese literature (selection guided by the teacher)

3) reading, analyizing and translating a literary text

- Chines, Loredana e Varotti, Carlo, "Che cos'è un testo letterario (nuova edizione)", Roma, Carocci, 2015.
- original texts in Japanese and/or in translation provided by the teacher

4) writing an academic essay on a literary text

- style sheets provided by the teacher


Reading list for "non frequentanti" (I will consider as "non frequentanti" those students that will have attended less than 10 lessons or, having attended at least 10 lessons, will not have completed all the mid-class assignments):
- all the academic articles that will be presented and discussed during classes
- one of the following books:
Bertoni, Federico, "Letteratura: teorie, metodi, strumenti", Roma, Carocci, 2018.
Brioschi, Franco, Di Girolamo Costanzo, Fusillo, Massimo, "Introduzione alla letteratura", Roma, Carocci, 2013
Ceserani, Remo, "Guida breve allo studio della letteratura", Roma, Laterza, 2008.
- one of the following books:
Casadei, Alberto, "La critica letteraria contemporanea", Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015.
Muzzioli, Francesco, "Le teorie della critica letteraria", Roma, Carocci, 2005.
- manuals on the history of modern Japanese literature (one of the following):
Keene, Donald, "Dawn to the West: Japanese Literature of the Modern Era, Poetry, Drama, Criticism", New York, Columbia University Press, 1999, pp. 1-73, 191-365.
Zanotti, Pierantonio, "Introduzione alla storia della poesia giapponese: Dall'Ottocento al Duemila", Venezia, Marsilio, 2012, chapt. 1-11.

A) frequentanti:

The attainment of the expected learning goals will be verified as follows:

1) bibliographical research and organizing the references

- The students will produce a "bibliography" or "list of references" on an assigned topic (individual mid-class assignment) (20% of the final evaluation)

2) reading and understanding an academic essay on a literary text

- The students will write a summary (individually) or give an oral presentation (as a group) of an academic article of their choice (20% of the final evaluation)

3) reading, analyizing and translating a literary text

- Reading, commentary and translation of literary texts during classes (20% of the final evaluation: students' participation will be evaluated)

4) writing an academic essay on a literary text

- final assignment and exam (40% of the final evaluation): the students will write a short essay (max 3000 words) on a literary text (choice guided by the teacher) that will be turned in after the end of classes. A short oral exam on the contents of their essay will follow.


B) "non frequentanti":
- the students will write a short essay (max 3000 words) on a literary text (choice guided by the teacher) that will be turned in after the end of classes (40% of final evaluation)
- oral exams on the contents of the short essay and the entire reading list for "non frequentanti" (60% of the final evaluation)

Frontal lessons and seminars.
Mid-class assignements (individually or by groups, depending on the number of enrolled students).

++++ in light of the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, the students are also advised to make sure they will have access to the technological tools required for distance learning (internet connection and a device with a webcam and a mic++++

Italian

This exam (with this syllabus) will be available only for the 4 "appelli" of the 2020-21 academic year. Starting from 2021-22, a new syllabus will be in use.

++++ in light of the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, the students are also advised to make sure they will have access to the technological tools required for distance learning (internet connection and a device with a webcam and a mic++++

written and oral