DIGITAL LITERARY STUDIES

The Digital Literary Studies course is part of the Master’s Degree Programme in Digital and Public Humanities and is linked to the Venice Centre for Digital and Public Humanities (VeDPH) in the Department of Humanities. The course introduces students to the methodologies and tools of Digital Humanities within the field of Literary Studies, with a particular focus on 20th-century literary texts and contemporary literature.

1. Knowledge and understanding:
- Knowledge of the traditions of Digital Humanities applied to literary studies.
- Understanding of the concepts of hypertextuality and textuality in the digital realm.
- Familiarity with critical theories on the interaction between literary content and the digital environment.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- Ability to use digital analysis tools for the study of literary texts.
- Ability to apply digital methodologies to 20th-century and contemporary literary texts, particularly those characterized by hypertextuality and digital writing on the web, including social media.
3. Ability to elaborate autonomously what has been learned:
- Ability to develop a critical digital analysis of a literary text, using the tools discussed during the course.
- Ability to formulate reflections on the interaction between digital literature and traditional writing formats.
4. Communication skills:
- Ability to present and discuss the results of the digital analysis of a literary text.
- Ability to communicate the theoretical and practical implications of the analysis.

There are no pre-requirements.

The course introduces the methods and tools of Digital Humanities within literary studies, with particular reference to 20th-century and contemporary texts. The goal is to provide the tools to explore the digital analysis of literary texts, with a focus on the concepts of hypertextuality, digital poetry, and writing on social media. The following topics will be covered:
• Introduction to Digital Humanities studies within the literary sphere, with an overview from the Middle Ages to the modern age in English and other languages, with a specific focus on contemporary studies.
• Definition and analysis of the concept of hypertextuality in literary texts and digital media.
• Digital poetry, writing on the web, and on social media.
• Theoretical and methodological approaches to the digital analysis of literary texts.
• Critical theories on the interaction between digital formats and literary content.

The reference text for the course is A Companion to Digital Literary Studies, edited by Ray Siemens and Susan Schirebman. Oxford: Blackwell, 2008. https://companions.digitalhumanities.org/DLS
The texts and learning materials will be made available on Moodle.

Evaluation will be based on the following components:
Final oral exam (mainly focused on the project and topics discussed in class)
Participation in discussions and activities
In-class presentation

oral

Below 18: exam failed – insufficient knowledge and understanding of course topics – insufficient performance in class and homework
18–21: sufficient knowledge and understanding – sufficient performance
22–24: satisfactory knowledge and understanding – satisfactory performance
25–27: good knowledge and understanding – good performance
28–30: very good to excellent knowledge and understanding – very good to excellent performance

Students will work on a shared project with individual subprojects, which they will discuss during the final exam. Teaching methods include lectures, lab activities, presentations, and discussions.

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion.
Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments:
Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.