The course is aimed at the acquisition, through an overview of the literary production of the entire Weimar era and subsequently of some specific works of the two authors, of that process of transition to the 'Moderne' through the objectification of the metropolis, above all - where possible - in a contrasting and intercultural way (see Futurism and Surrealism), which flows into and materializes in Alfred Döblin's prose of the metropolis and in Walter Benjamin's 'paths' dedicated to Paris and Berlin.

The epoque of Alfred Döblin and Walter Benjamin will be initially introduced. Works or parts of them by the two authors, as well as critical literature, will then be examinated in order to connect the concepts of "Wandlung der Symbolisierung, Wahrnehmung und Semiotik der Stadt in der Literatur der Moderne."

- Understanding and critical skills to analyze aspects, historical and cultural-literary events, placing them within a cultural overview of the historical development and their sociological and social repercussions.

- Skills of applying knowledge and understanding: the student will have the cultural and literary skills to the description and analysis of German culture and literature.

- Making judgments: the student will have, through a broad spectrum of readings and references, critical skills that enable him to analyze and evaluate texts and cultural topics and matter autonomous opinions on socio-cultural issues concerning various historical periods.

- Communication skills: ability to come to understand and communicate and convey reality and different ages and use a specific language.

- The acquisition capacity of methodological tools and bibliographical and critical skills to further develop their area of knowledge for the next levels of studies.

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

Online notes and databases prepared by the teacher.

Teaching

Frontal and seminar lessons

Attendance

There are no requirements, unless the observance of the program handbook

Course books

Primary literature:

A. Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz, BUR Biblioteca Univ. Rizzoli, Milano, 2008

W. Benjamin, Berliner Kindheit um neunzehnhundert. Fassung letzter Hand. Mit einem Nachwort von Th. W. Adorno, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt, 1987

The following texts will all be made available on Moodle:

- L. Renzi,  "Wahrnehmung und Bild der Großstadt. Von Benjamins Städtebildern und den ‘Berliner Texten’ bis Döblins Berlin Alexanderplatz". In: "derekh. Judaica urbinatensia", I, n. 0, 2002, p. 58-75

- L. Renzi, “Alfred Döblin und das Bild der Moderne in seiner Epik-Theorie“. In: conference proceedings "Zum Begriff und Phänomen der literarischen Moderne", H. Kiesel/S. Becker (eds.). De Gruyter, Berlin - New York, 2007, pp. 181-198

Critical literature:

M. Dallapiazza/C. Santi, Storia della letteratura tedesca, Laterza, Bari, 2001, vol. 3: Il novecento, part II ("La metropoli e le ideologie"), pp. 50- 109

H. Kiesel/S. Becker (eds.) , Literarische Moderne. Begriff und Phänomen, De Gruyter, Berlin - New York, 2007 (parts)

H. Kiesel, Geschichte der literarischen Moderne, C.H. Beck, München, 2004 (parts)

E. Rutigliano/G. Schiavoni (eds.), Caleidoscopio benjaminiano, Istituto italianio di Studi germanici, Roma, 1987, in: Studi e ricerche, a c. di P. Chiarini (pp. 221-231 e pp. 355-374)

G. Schiavoni, Walter Benjamin. Sopravvivere alla cultura, Sellerio, Palermo, 1980 (pp. 96-131)

P. Belpassi, Walter Benjamin. Note per una filosofia dell'infanzia, Montefeltro, Urbino, 2000 (parti - Volume disponibile c/o Libreria Moderna, Urbino)

Assessment

Oral examination. Term Paper

Attending students can make use of a term paper, to be carried out in groups or individually during the course or to be delivered at the end of it, according to the criteria described by the teacher. It will be evaluated by the teacher with a mark in thirties and will integrate the oral exam score at 50%. Those who declare they are attending will have to attend at least two thirds of the lessons.

Non-attending students are required to follow the exam program as foreseen by the vademecum.

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.

Teaching

Non-attending students are required to observe the program handbook and to verify the historical and cultural contexts through the network or other methods. They are also invited to visit the page on Blended Learning Uniurb for further study materials.

Attendance

There are no requirements, unless the observance of the program handbook

Course books

Same of attending students

Assessment

Oral examination.

Remember that a CFU approximates the measurement of the hours of commitment dedicated by the student to training activities equal to 25 hours (lessons, seminars, practice, work at home). The present course is equivalent to 8 CFU, i.e. 200 hours of total activities: if the hours of class attendance are not included within this number of hours, they should be integrated by autonomous activities of equal duration.

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.

Part of the course will be taught in German. The students can request to sit the final exam in German with an alternative bibliography

Teil des Kurses wird auf Deutsch gehalten werden. Die StudentInnen können auf Nachfrage die Prüfung in deutscher Sprache mit einer Alternativbibliografie halten