OVERVIEW

    This course aims to introduce the knowledge of the history of Latin American ideas of the 15th and 16th centuries.  Significant cultural texts of the period will be analyzed which will allow us to interpret the dialectic between discussions, concepts, ideas and history.  There will be a particular emphasis on grasping a working knowledge of the topic and its representation of:  processes of institutionalization, theoretical-conceptual processes, producing texts

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

   The goal of this course is to introduce students to notable moments in the cultural and literary history of Hispano-American countries such as the Spanish conquest, the colonial period and independence.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

During this course you will be presented with the cultural, political, and ideological causes that lead to the conquest and colonization of the New World. Particular attention will be paid to the workings of linguistic, cultural, and religious impositions by the Spanish conqueror. The students must acquire the knowledge of the cultural history of the period studied, necessary to: 

-achieve a theoretical method of discussion that will allow you to connect the social resources, symbolic content, and forms of enunciation;

-examine the ideological representations present in the body of the proposed texts through the configuration of themes, concepts and argumentative scenarios;

-analyze the contexts in which knowledge is produced and the ways in which it is represented;

-understand the significance and importance of the period’s culture starting from a contemporary perspective;

-identify significant moments in the cultural history of the period;

-promote critical and argumentative reading on the themes and problems of the period’s culture

-observe the style of writing of the proposed texts

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

36 lecture hours, held in the 2nd semester,  characterized by cultural, social, historical and ideological insights.  Students will be invited to actively participate in the analysis of the texts presented. 

Attendance is not compulsory, but strongly recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will analyze the premises and consequences - philosophical/cultural - connected to the event of the Discovery/Conquest of America.  Premises and consequences are investigated both in the world of the conquerors and in that of the conquered.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

T. Todorov, La Conquista de América. El problema del otro; (Testo disponibile in rete)

E.Dussel,  El encubrimiento del otro. Hacia el origen de la modernidad; (Testo disponibile in rete).

B. Pastor, Discursos narrativos de la conquista: mitificación y emergencia, 1° e 2° parte.  

A. Rosenblat, Los conquistadores y su lengua, cap.I e II. 

Un libro a scelta tra:

A.Carpentier, El arpa y la sombra;

J.J. Saer, El Entenado;

C. Fuentes, El Naranjo.

Lecturer’s notes.

Students not attending class in person must agree on the program with the Lecturer.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MICHELE PORCIELLO (President)

ALESSIA CASSANI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

II semester.

Class schedule

HISPANO-AMERICAN LITERATURE AND CULTURE I

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will consist of an oral interview covering the course contents.  In addition to the knowledge of the program, the exam will also evaluate the ability to expose the knowledge and the accurate usage of the language specific to this discipline

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with special educational needs and disabilities cerftified by a formal statement from an official assessment body are kindly requested to contact the instructor at the beginning of the term in order to arrange a suitable testing format.