AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the completion of the course the student

- will have become familiar with major American historical and cultural developments, and with some major American writers and texts;

- will be able to interpret these developments in English and Italian with reference to  fiction, poetry, drama and literary theory;

- will be able to contextualize and analyze texts and documents of notable complexity and historical significance and describe their cultural and linguistic peculiarities.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is composed of lectures as well as seminars. The latter will involve the active participation of students, who can engage in individual and/or group research and presentations. Three hours per week given in two classes (of 2 hours and 1 hour respectively).

LESSONS ARE IN ENGLISH.

For students who decide to come to lessons, attendance is mandatory for 28 hours out of 36 (75% of the course). Attendance is checked through signatures. 

Students who are unable to attend will have to read some supplementary material.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will deal with the African American tradition from Colonial America to the contemporary period. Every year through different texts and perspectives, students will focus on some issues like slavery, African tradition, the Middle Passage, slave narratives, segregation, relationship with the white and European tradition, the Civil Rights Movement till the most recent expressions like Black Lives Matter.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The course will focus on issues related to space analyzed in the field of African American literature and culture. Lessons will primarily, but not exclusively, deal with two novels of Toni Morriosn winner for the nobel prize for literature in 1993.

Students are highly recommended to read the two novels before the beginning of lessons.

Bibliography

The Bluest Eye (1970)

Home (2012)

Additional bibliography will be given during lessons