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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 321"
COURSE NAME: "Critical Study of Modern and Contemporary Italian Literature"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement, IT 302 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course aims to provide a critical understanding of the main trends in modern and contemporary Italian literature. Topics include, but are not limited to, cultural and ideological implications of the Italian literary canon; the long-lasting elitist conception of literature descended from the linguistic and literary history of Italy; the long exclusion of women writers from anthologies and literary histories; the demise of the twentieth-century figure of the writer as intellectual and the rise of a more pop-culture-open notion of literary writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course aims at a critical understanding of the main trends of Italian literature from early 20th century to today. Critical issues, such as cultural implications of modern Italian literary canon; coexistence of national and regional cultures in Italian literary tradition; the historical marginalization of Italian women writers until recent years; relationships between literature, society, and national history, as well as the impact of global studies on the current interpretation of the Italian literary tradition will be discussed by combining close readings of the most paradigmatic works and authors with secondary sources both in Italian and in English.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

--To master the traditionally defined Italian literary canon.

--To learn concepts and theories in the subject of Italian Literary Studies.
 --To develop skills in the interpretation and analysis of Italian literature, as well as to develop the critical-thinking skills necessary to provide a creative interpretation of the text.
--To improve reading and writing skills in Italian.
 --To master bibliographical research skills.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
LIBERAMENTE - VOLUME 3 + I CONTEMPORANEI. La modernità (dal 1861 al 1956) + I contemporanei (dal 1956 ai nostri giorni)R.Saviano, E.Angioloni, L.Giustolisi, M. A.Mariani, G.Müller Pozzebon, S.PanichiPalumbo978-88-6889-115-2     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Controcanone. La letteratura delle donne dalle origini a oggiJohnny L. BertolioLoescher978-8858344767  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm examIn class-exam with close questions on the materials we studied. 20%
Weekly Written AssignmentsNo late submission. You are allowed to miss 2 submissions, after which any additional missed submission will result in 2 points less in this portion of your grade. 25%
final paper4000 words (approximately), 1.5 space, on a topic previously approved by the Instructor20%
final examIn class CUMULATIVE final exam. Structure: texts identifications and critical explanation. Short essay.20 %
Attendance and Class participationStudents are required to come to class ALWAYS prepared on readings and to actively partecipate to class discussions. PLEASE NOTE THAT I-PHONE AND COMPUTERS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS. STUDENTS WHO WILL DISREGARD THIS RULE WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM. You are allowed 2 excused absences, after which this portion of the grade will result in a 0. Please do not send me medical certificates as they do not affect my attendance policy. Should you have serious reasons to miss additional classes, please refer to the official Request for an exemption from the instructors’ attendance policy on JCU website.5%
oral presentation15 minutes oral presentation on a topic previously discussed with the Instructor.10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are allowed 2 absences. More than 2 absences will lower your grade (1 pts for each additional absence)
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INSTRUCTOR CAN MAKE CHANGES

Week 1 (Jan. 16,18)

Introduction to the course: When does ‘Modern’ Italian literature begin? How much we can rely on ‘-ism’ when studying literature?

Italian Literature into the context of European Literature.

Assignments: Readings: LIBERAmente, pp. 6-17; pp. 23-25. Written Exercises p. 25.

Week 2 (Jan. 23,25)

The birth of modern poetry in Europe.

Readings: LIBERAmente, pp. 196-199

The Italian way to Symbolism: Giovanni Pascoli

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 260-265. Written Exercises p. 265.

The poet as a Vate and his life as an artistic work: Gabriele D’Annunzio.

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 290-302. Written Exercises p.298 and p.302

Week 3 (Jan 30, Febr 1)

European Artistic Avant-guard and the Italian Futurism

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 342-359

Narratives of the Self(s): Luigi Pirandello

Assignments: LIBERAMente, pp. 422-435. Written Exercises p. 435

Week 4 (Febr. 6, 8)

Pirandello’s theatre

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp 461-465. Written Exercises p. 465

Literature and Freudian Psychoanalysis: Italo Svevo

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 492-496; 507-513, Written Exercises p. 513

Week 5 (Febr. 13. 15, 16)

Italian literature during fascism.

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 626-634.

Poetry breaks the traditional forms: Giuseppe Ungaretti.

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp.652- 660; pp. 676-679. Written Exercises p. 660

Friday 16: Make Up Day

 Week 6 (Febr. 20, 22)

Poetry as a reflection on inner realities: Umberto Saba

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp.684-686; pp. 694-699. Written Exercises p. 699

Poetry as the Resistance of Rationality: Eugenio Montale

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 718-724; pp. 729-733. Written Exercise p. 730 and p. 731.

SPRING BREAK February 24- March 4)

Week 7 (March 5, 7)

March 5: Review for Midterm

March 7: Midterm Exam

Week 8 (March 12, 14)

Novels and short stories in postwar Italy.

Neorealism in Literature: Elio Vittorini and Cesare Pavese

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp.812-815; pp. 819-821

Narrating the crisis of the bourgeoisie: Alberto Moravia

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 833-839. Written Exercises p. 839

Week 9 (March 19, 21)

Neorealism and the Shoah: Primo Levi

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 839-847. Written Exercises p. 847

Experimental Narrative: Pier Paolo Pasolini’s novels

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp.81-87. Written Exercises p. 87

Week 10 (March 26, 28)

Experimental narrative 2: Carlo Emilio Gadda’s Quer Pastiacciaccio brutto de via Merulana

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 868-874; pp. 880-889. Written Exercises p. 889

Towards a Postmodern literature: Expanding the notion of poetry and literature: the Italian Cantautori

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 47-50; pp. 54-57

Oral Presentation Topic Due

Final Paper Topic Due

Week 11 (April 2, 4)

Young Italian writers of the 1980s and 1990s

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 109-116; W. Siti, Contro l’impegno. Introduzione

Writing as a Reader:  Italo Calvino

Assignments: LIBERAmente, pp. 130-132; 142-146, pp. 157-158.  Written Exercises p. 144

Week 12 (April 9, 11)

Oral Presentations

Controcanone: la letteratura delle donne. Excerpts.

Assignments: TBA

Week 13 (April 16, 18)

Oral Presentation

Controcanone: la letteratura delle donne. Contemporary Italian Women Writers:  Michela Murgia, Maria Grazia Calandrone, Antonella Lattanzi, and Ada D’Adamo.

Assignments:TBA

Week 14 (April 23)

Conclusions and Review for Final