The course is designed to foster students’ ability to analyze the similarities and differences across various western cultures and literatures, especially concerning the 20th and 21th centuries. To achieve this objective, classes will focus on the analysis of a selection of popular literary and cinematographic representations of the so-called totalitarian regimes (Fascism, Nazism and Stalinism) and of the models of democracy prevalent in the contemporary western societies.    

1. Theoretical definition, genealogy, modern history and main current orientations of Comparative Literature.

2. Overview of the basic methodologies for interpreting films and interactions between cinema and literature.

3. Analysis of a number of chosen texts.

4. Analysis of a number of chosen films.

Comprehension and knowledge

By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate good knowledge of the dynamics underlying the interrelations existing among the most important western literary genres, not only with regard to the contemporary age.

Applied knowledge

By the end of the course, students will be able to develop a critical approach to the analysis of literary texts, not only with regard to specific aspects of the subject, but also from a sociological perspective.

Critical thinking

By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to develop a critical analysis and evaluation of the main literary texts studied during the course.

Communication skills

By the end of the course, students will have acquired an ability to communicate their own ideas concerning the literary works and the theoretical issues discussed in class in a way that is clear and accurate.

Learning skills

By the end of the course, students will have acquired an ability to study and independently decode texts and to carry out bibliographic research aimed at providing a reference guidance for the interpretation of literary works.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises) and specific communications from the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

The course is based on frontal lessons. The teacher will provide students with theoretical foundations and will help them to develop subject-specific vocabulary. Based on learners’ interest, attitude and achievements, interactive lessons will be included in the course, in order to promote debate and critical thinking among students, using seminar-style teaching methods.

Course books

References

• Pero Boitani e Emilia Di Rocco, Guida allo studio delle letterature comparate, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2013

• Elias Canetti, Massa e potere, Milano, Adelphi, 2001

• Carlo Emilio Gadda, Eros e Priapo (Da furore a cenere), in Saggi Giornali Favole e altri scritti, a cura di C. Vela, G. Gaspari, G. Pinotti, F. Gavazzeni, D. Isella, M. A. Terzoli, Milano, Garzanti, 1992, vol. 2

• Ernst Jünger, Martin Heidegger, Oltre la linea, a cura di F. Volpi, Milano, Adelphi, 2004

• Jonathan Littell, Il secco e l’umido. Una breve incursione in territorio fascista, Torino, Einaudi, 2009

• Thomas Mann, Mario e il mago, in Romanzi brevi, a cura di R. Fertonani, Milano, Mondadori, 1977

• Joseph Roth, Destra e sinistra, Milano, Adelphi, 2007

• Antonio Tricomi, Fotogrammi dal moderno. Glosse sul cinema e la letteratura, Torino, Rosenberg & Sellier, 2015

• Marco Bellocchio, Vincere (2009)

• Michael Haneke, Il nastro bianco (Das weisse band, 2009)

• Aleksandr Sokurov, Moloch (1999)

• Billy Wilder, La fiamma del peccato (Double Indemnity, 1944)

Optional readings

• Günther Anders, L’uomo è antiquato. I. Considerazioni sull’anima nell’epoca della seconda rivoluzione industriale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2007

• Günther Anders, L’uomo è antiquato. II. Sulla distruzione della vita nell’epoca della terza rivoluzione industriale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2007

• Hannah Arendt, Le origini del totalitarismo, Torino, Einaudi, 2004

• Giulio Bollati, L’Italiano. Il carattere nazionale come storia e come invenzione, Torino, Einaudi, 2011

• Guy Debord, La società dello spettacolo seguita dai Commentari sulla società dello spettacolo, Milano, Baldini&Castoldi, 1997

• Piero Gobetti, La Rivoluzione Liberale. Saggio sulla lotta politica in Italia, a cura di E. Alessandrone Perona, Torino, Einaudi, 2008

• Antonio Gramsci, Passato e presente, Roma, Editori Riuniti, 1996

• Siegfried Kracauer, La fabbrica del disimpegno, a cura di C. Groff, Napoli, l’ancora del mediterraneo, 2002

• Jonathan Littell, Le Benevole, Torino, Einaudi, 2007

• Thomas Mann, Doctor Faustus, Milano, Mondadori, 1980

• Georg Simmel, Le metropoli e la vita dello spirito, a cura di P. Jedlowski, Roma, Armando, 1995

• Stefan Zweig, Il mondo di ieri. Ricordi di un europeo, a cura di S. Montis, Roma, Newton Compton, 2013

• Lino Del Fra, Cecilia Mangini, Lino Miccichè, All’armi siam fascisti (1962)

• Stanley Kubrick, Rapina a mano armata (The Killing, 1956)

• Leni Riefenstahl, Il trionfo della volontà (Der Triumph des Willens, 1936)

• Aleksandr Sokurov, Taurus (Telec, 2000)

• Aleksandr Sokurov, Il sole (Solnce, 2005)

• Orson Welles, Quarto potere (Citizen Kane, 1941)

Assessment

The evaluation of students’ achievements is based on oral examinations. Learners’ knowledge of the subject and their ability to display critical thinking, using subject-specific language, will be assessed during the examination, through questions aimed at evaluating the acquisition of theoretical notions.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

References

• Pero Boitani e Emilia Di Rocco, Guida allo studio delle letterature comparate, Bari-Roma, Laterza, 2013

• Elias Canetti, Massa e potere, Milano, Adelphi, 2001

• Carlo Emilio Gadda, Eros e Priapo (Da furore a cenere), in Saggi Giornali Favole e altri scritti, a cura di C. Vela, G. Gaspari, G. Pinotti, F. Gavazzeni, D. Isella, M. A. Terzoli, Milano, Garzanti, 1992, vol. 2

• Ernst Jünger, Martin Heidegger, Oltre la linea, a cura di F. Volpi, Milano, Adelphi, 2004

• Jonathan Littell, Il secco e l’umido. Una breve incursione in territorio fascista, Torino, Einaudi, 2009

• Thomas Mann, Mario e il mago, in Romanzi brevi, a cura di R. Fertonani, Milano, Mondadori, 1977

• Joseph Roth, Destra e sinistra, Milano, Adelphi, 2007

• Antonio Tricomi, Fotogrammi dal moderno. Glosse sul cinema e la letteratura, Torino, Rosenberg & Sellier, 2015

• Marco Bellocchio, Vincere (2009)

• Michael Haneke, Il nastro bianco (Das weisse band, 2009)

• Aleksandr Sokurov, Moloch (1999)

• Billy Wilder, La fiamma del peccato (Double Indemnity, 1944)

Optional readings

• Günther Anders, L’uomo è antiquato. I. Considerazioni sull’anima nell’epoca della seconda rivoluzione industriale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2007

• Günther Anders, L’uomo è antiquato. II. Sulla distruzione della vita nell’epoca della terza rivoluzione industriale, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2007

• Hannah Arendt, Le origini del totalitarismo, Torino, Einaudi, 2004

• Giulio Bollati, L’Italiano. Il carattere nazionale come storia e come invenzione, Torino, Einaudi, 2011

• Guy Debord, La società dello spettacolo seguita dai Commentari sulla società dello spettacolo, Milano, Baldini&Castoldi, 1997

• Piero Gobetti, La Rivoluzione Liberale. Saggio sulla lotta politica in Italia, a cura di E. Alessandrone Perona, Torino, Einaudi, 2008

• Antonio Gramsci, Passato e presente, Roma, Editori Riuniti, 1996

• Siegfried Kracauer, La fabbrica del disimpegno, a cura di C. Groff, Napoli, l’ancora del mediterraneo, 2002

• Jonathan Littell, Le Benevole, Torino, Einaudi, 2007

• Thomas Mann, Doctor Faustus, Milano, Mondadori, 1980

• Georg Simmel, Le metropoli e la vita dello spirito, a cura di P. Jedlowski, Roma, Armando, 1995

• Stefan Zweig, Il mondo di ieri. Ricordi di un europeo, a cura di S. Montis, Roma, Newton Compton, 2013

• Lino Del Fra, Cecilia Mangini, Lino Miccichè, All’armi siam fascisti (1962)

• Stanley Kubrick, Rapina a mano armata (The Killing, 1956)

• Leni Riefenstahl, Il trionfo della volontà (Der Triumph des Willens, 1936)

• Aleksandr Sokurov, Taurus (Telec, 2000)

• Aleksandr Sokurov, Il sole (Solnce, 2005)

• Orson Welles, Quarto potere (Citizen Kane, 1941)

Assessment

The evaluation of students’ achievements is based on oral examinations. Learners’ knowledge of the subject and their ability to display critical thinking, using subject-specific language, will be assessed during the examination, through questions aimed at evaluating the acquisition of theoretical notions.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.