OVERVIEW

Italian theater literature juxtaposes the study of theatrical texts with the broader study of the relationships between text and theater. The discipline uses a philological and literary-historical methodology together, applying it to the writings that prepare, preserve or replace the spectacular event. Its main object of study are therefore the literary texts that, in gradually different ways, have accompanied the history of Italian performance from the 15th century to the present.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The discipline's aim is to introduce students to the specificity of the dramatic text in the context of Italian literary and spectacular production; to introduce students to the history of the dramatic text in Italy from the 15th to the 20th century through examples and texts, including the theme of the theatrical book: being able to analyze a text and a theatrical book in all of its structural components and to recognize theatrical elements. It is thus a teaching that engages with Italian literature, theater history and dramaturgy, as well as the history of theater language, in order to highlight a specific tradition of poets, authors, and theatrical writing practices.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participation in the activities and / or individual study will allow the student to:

• demonstrate knowledge of the forms of the theatrical text from the 15th century to the present day (in particular, authors and texts in the syllabus);
• employ basic elements of theatrical philology and drama vocabulary;
• understand the texts in the syllabus and recognise and place unfamiliar theatrical texts in historical context;
• analyse a theatrical text highlighting its main features (genre, structure, themes, setting, relationships between characters, etc.);
• describe and interpret texts according to their dramatic function.

PREREQUISITES

Good command of Italian literature and History of the performing arts.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching involves lectures with the aid of multimedia tools and materials, as well as innovative educational IT systems, flipped classroom, and self-assessment. During the lectures, commented readings of theatrical texts and cultural insights aimed at contextualizing the examined works will be proposed. Students will also be invited to divide into groups, conduct research on texts related to the course theme independently, following the teacher's guidelines, and present it in class.

Due to its nature of active and participatory confrontation with theatrical texts, attendance of the course is highly recommended. It is also advisable to attend the first lecture, during which the syllabus of the course and exam methods will be presented. Non-attending students should make contact with the lecturer (giordano.rodda@unige.it).

Lectures will be held in person unless otherwise specified by the University.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

For everyone:

1. The theatrical text: formal, linguistic, and structural characteristics; analysis of the theatrical text.

2. The "marvelous" in 17th-century theater. The second part of the course will focus on the various interpretations of the fundamental Baroque concept of "meraviglioso" ("wondrous") on stage, through three works from the early seventeenth century: l'Orfeo by Alessandro Striggio and Claudio Monteverdi, Filli di Sciro by Guidubaldo Bonarelli, and Amor nello specchio by Giovan Battista Andreini. In the final part, we will examine the eighteenth-century persistence of the marvelous with L'amore delle tre melarance by Carlo Gozzi.

For 9 credits, in addition to 1) and 2):

1. Theatrical mutations: "La figlia di Iorio". On the centenary of Eleonora Duse's death, the work that Gabriele D'Annunzio wrote for her will be analyzed. She never performed it, being replaced by Irma Gramatica in one of the most famous "betrayals" in Italian theater.

For non-attending students:

The exam for non-attending students requires additional texts compared to that for attending students. Therefore, students are invited to contact the instructor at giordano.rodda@unige.it.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Points 1 and 2: Simona Morando, La letteratura teatrale italiana. Il testo drammatico e la sua storia dal Medioevo al Novecento​, Milan, Carocci, 2023;; handouts on the dramatic text and its history by the teacher on Aulaweb.

Pocket editions of the drama texts in the program. A file with detailed bibliographical directions will be available on Aulaweb and hard-to-find texts will be uploaded.

Format of the analysis sheet developed and shared in class.

Point 3:

An edition of the theatrical text on the syllabus:

- Gabriele D'Annunzio, La figlia di Iorio, introduzione di Pietro Gibellini, Milano, Garzanti, 2018.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIORDANO RODDA (President)

SIMONA MORANDO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will start September 16, 2024.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral / written exam.

The analysis form should be submitted via email to the lecturer at least 10 days before the oral examination.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral exam on the texts in the syllabus and analysis form of a dramatic text to be handed in to the teacher according to the agreed terms; evaluation grid shared with the class.

The analysis form is to be developed on one of the texts in the syllabus and serves to verify the acquisition of the method of analysis of the dramatic text and the correct understanding of it.

The oral interview serves to test knowledge of the dramatic literature landscape and knowledge and understanding of the texts in the syllabus.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

All students, attending and non-attending, are asked to register for teaching on AulaWeb to receive communications and notices regarding the course.

Erasmus or non-native Italian-speaking students should contact the lecturer to arrange the exam schedule.

Students with disabilities or DSA are reminded that to request exam adaptations, they must first upload their certification on the university's website at servizionline.unige.it in the "Students" section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Inclusion Services for Students with Disabilities and DSA (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111).

At least 10 days before the exam date, students should email the instructor, copying the School's Inclusion Representative (Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Inclusion Services. The email must include: the course name, exam date, student’s name and ID number, requested compensatory tools, and dispensative measures. The representative will confirm the student's right to adaptations, which must be agreed upon with the instructor. The instructor will respond regarding the feasibility of the requested adaptations.

Requests must be sent at least 10 days prior to the exam date to allow the instructor to assess the content. Specifically, for the use of concept maps (which must be much more concise than those used for studying), if the submission is late, there may not be enough time for necessary adjustments.

For more information on requesting services and adaptations, refer to the document: Guidelines for requesting services, compensatory tools, and/or dispensatory measures and specific aids May 2024.