Ateneo - UPO

Another attempt to read and highlight some notable but slightly less known texts of Italian literature from 1975 to 2019, focusing, this time, on a single author: Ernesto Ferrero (1938-2023).

Luciano Curreri, Il mondo come teatro. Storia e storie nelle narrazioni di Ernesto Ferrero, Firenze, Olschki («Particelle elementari»), 2021, 126 pp. The student will also be asked to choose and read a couple of texts published between 1975 and 2019 (see complete program/content).

A basic level, the course proposes to stimulate the students with (a) less usual and closer choices of authors, texts and periodisations (b) and less canon-oriented guidelines (c) in order to suggest to him the idea that literary history is not given once and for all in the manuals and the more or less extensive syntheses they offer. At an advanced level, At an advanced level, it is understood that such syntheses are useful but do not impose fixed limits and do not exclude new interpretations.

Historical and historical-literary knowledge relating to the 20th century, and in particular its second half, and the first two decades of the 21st century.

Lectures followed by discussions and questions; web-based teaching if necessary.

DSA/BES. Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The final exam consists of an oral examination, which will focus on the following points: 1. Verification of knowledge of certain texts of Italian literature from 1975 to 2019, starting with the essay listed above and corresponding to 50% of the exam grade; 2. Testing of skills in analysing and interpreting the texts examined (with particular attention to the texts chosen and presented by the teacher in the classroom; see complete programme/content) and at the same time of communicative skills and the potential to already express an autonomous critical ability, starting with a question on a couple of specific essays, corresponding to 50% of the exam grade. At least sufficient answers to each of the questions are required to pass the examination.

1. From afar and late. An essayistic amarcord for Ernesto Ferrero; 2. Four hundred like us? Gilles de Rais. Crimes and Punishment of «Bluebeard» (1975) and Bluebeard. Gilles de Rais and the decline of the Middle Ages (1998 and 2004); 3. White Deer (1980) or The Year of the Indian (2001); 4. N. (2000): serve with joy, think with your own head; 4.1. Appendix: Napoleon in twenty words (2021): tout se tient!; 5. The best years of our lives (2005): the 'light' mourning of Ernesto Ferrero; 6. For a 'portrait of the writer as an old man', or Drawing the Wind. The Last Voyage of Captain Salgari (2011); 6.1 Appendix: Cavalier Salgari, my neighbor (2002); 7. When you have a vegetable garden, you have a past. Story of Quirina, of a mole and a mountain vegetable garden (2014); 8. When you could remember and tell in black and white. Turin Amarcord and Juventus Amarcord (2018); 9. When a conjunction is enough: Francis and the Sultan (2019); 10. A word from the Author. For an interview (let the Author speak, encore que...).

In order to attain the knowledge and skills corresponding to the a passing level, students is asked to demonstrate: (KNOWLEDGE) to know the main typologies of the italian novel selected in the second half of the 20th century and the first two decades of the 21st century; (SKILLS) to be able to analyse and interpret texts, linking historical-literary elements to ethical and political ones; (TRANSVERSAL SKILLS) to be able to present in a clear and effective manner knowledge, information and opinions related to the texts and problems dealt with, using appropriate language and terminology. For the attainment of a more advanced level, the students must demonstrate: a personal vision of the themes addressed in the lessons, combined with a critical ability for analysis and synthesis.