CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE I SP

This course is among the characterizing activities of the Modern and Contemporary curriculum within the Master's degree programme in Italian Philology and Literature. It also constitutes part of the related and supplementary activities for the Medieval and Renaissance curriculum of the same degree programme, as well as for the Master's degree programme in History from the Middle Ages to the Contemporary Age.

The course aims to provide students with comprehensive and in-depth knowledge, alongside specialized methodological skills, in the field of Italian Literature from the early twentieth century to the 2000s. It further seeks to enhance students' awareness of the diverse critical-methodological approaches through which a text may be interpreted, engaging with it also through comparison with other texts—not necessarily contemporaneous—in recognition of the inescapable dialectic between past and present that characterizes literary history.

1. Knowledge
- To deepen knowledge of twentieth-century Italian literature in relation to its contemporary cultural context and its intertextual connections with other works, including those from earlier periods;
- To refine methodological knowledge pertaining to strategies of literary text analysis.

2. Skills
- To autonomously apply effective analytical strategies, calibrated to the specific characteristics of the texts under examination, with awareness of the variety of possible methodological and interpretative approaches;
- To elaborate both oral and written commentary on literary texts with mastery of specialized vocabulary and a personal perspective grounded in philological and critical rigour;
- To engage literary texts in dialogue with other texts and historical periods within a comparative and multidisciplinary framework.

Good knowledge of the history of Italian literature (of authors and their major works).
Excellent knowledge of the Italian language.

The course will focus on the following topic:
Italian Literature of the 1980s.

The course will explore a decade that is usually somewhat overlooked by literary criticism, yet remains extraordinarily interesting. Following the decline of literature's major figures (Pasolini passed away in 1975, Calvino in 1985), writers had to rethink the relationship between writing and the world, and define their connection to postmodernism as well as the socio-economic transformations of the era.

After establishing a theoretical framework, the course will focus in particular on four authors: Daniele Del Giudice, Pier Vittorio Tondelli, Gesualdo Bufalino, and Vincenzo Consolo.

Students are required to read three novels or short story collections from among those published by the four selected authors.

Specific guidelines regarding the critical and theoretical bibliography will be provided later.

The exam consists of two parts:

The writing of a paper (approx. 20,000 characters, including spaces) on the three books read. These can be by the same author or by different authors, based on the students' interests and preferences. The paper must offer a personal reading and interpretation based on the course topics, and must be submitted via email at least one week before the exam date.

An oral exam, which will consist partly of a discussion of the paper and partly of an assessment of the student's knowledge of the course content.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

With regard to grading (how grades will be awarded), regardless of whether attending or not:
A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of
- sufficient knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the syllabus;
- limited ability to collect and/or interpret data, making independent judgements;
- sufficient communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language;
B. marks in bands 23-26 will be awarded in the presence of
- discrete knowledge and applied comprehension skills with reference to the syllabus;
- discrete ability to collect and/or interpret data, making autonomous judgements;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language;
C. scores in band 27-30 will be awarded in the presence of
- good or very good knowledge and applied understanding with reference to the syllabus;
- good or very good ability to collect and/or interpret data, making independent judgements;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language.
D. Honours will be awarded in the presence of knowledge and ability of applied understanding with reference to the syllabus, excellent judgement and communication skills.

Lectures and seminar-style text discussions.

Language of instruction is Italian.

The programme for non-attending students does not vary from the programme for attending student

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development