AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Gli studenti che frequenteranno le lezioni e studieranno i materiali in programma aumenteranno la loro consapevolezza delle linee di sviluppo della letteratura britannica contemporanea. In particolare approfondiranno la loro conoscenza della produzione letteraria fra 1980 e 2005, e impareranno a riconoscere alcune delle forme del romanzo più recente. Inoltre, potranno riflettere su tematiche etiche al centro dell'attuale dibattito non solo sulla letteratura, ma anche sulle arti e sulla società contemporanea. Miglioreranno, in conclusione,  le loro capacità analitiche e critiche, e padroneggeranno alcuni strumenti teorici e critici fondamentali per la comprensione del clima culturale contemporaneo.

Students who attend classes regularly and actively, and study the prescribed material, will

- increase their historical-cultural awareness of contemporary British literature;

- acquire an in-depth knowledge of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century literary production;

- become aware of the debates around ethical issues in contemporary literature and culture.

Their analytical and critical skills will improve.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures in English, plus optional seminar activities. Attendance is recommended. Students who are unable to attend will have to read supplementary/alternative material. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The module Kazuo Ishiguro and the Forms of Memory in Contemporary British Fiction (1980–2005) examines works of some late twentieth- and early twenty-first century novelists with a special emphasis on Kazuo Ishiguro's works.

The course begins with an overview of the social, economic and cultural issues of the period under scrutiny, then moves on to consider the development of the contemporary British novel through the work of some representative writers who tackle the issue of memory from a range of different perspectives. Remembering will be analysed in relation to ethical issues (Kazuo Ishiguro) and a range of different forms: historical metaficion (A.S. Byatt), trauma narrative (Tom McCarthy) and the postcolonial novel (Zadie Smith).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Students will read:

- a novel by Kazuo Ishiguro fra The Remains of the Day e Never Let Me Go;

- two novels chosen among A.S. Byatt, Possession; Zadie Smith, White Teeth; Tom McCarthy, Remainder.

Critical material will be made available via aulaweb, and/or in the department library. The complete reading list, inclusive of information for non-attending students, will be published in aulaweb before Christmas.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Wednesday 3 October

TIME OF CLASSES: Wednesday 3-6 pm, Room C, Polo didattico; Thursday 4-6 pm, Room IV, Balbi V

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

This course is assessed by written examination (open questions/3 hours).

Students who regularly attend classes will be offered the opportunity to write written reports, or give oral presentations, which will substitute for part of the exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students will be asked to demonstrate their knowledge of primary texts and critical bibliography, their understanding of cultural and theoretical issues and their ability to analyse and contextualise extracts from literary texts. Their ability to write in English will also be taken into account. 

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Attendance is strongly recommended. At the beginning of the course students will have to enrol in AulaWeb (https://lingue.aulaweb.unige.it/course/view.php?id=918). Enrolment for exams is online (www.unige.it).

  This syllabus is valid till February 2020.