The tale of the self. A narrative journey between Portugal, Africa and Brazil
The aim of the course is to trace a history of Portuguese-language literatures (in addition to Portuguese and Brazilian literature, emphasis will be placed on African Portuguese-language literatures) through works from mainly 20th-century and contemporary fields that narrate the dimension of the self and reflect on the poetics that arise from it.
The course aims at a literary and translating incursion into the everyday universe of two great Brazilian women writers of the 20th century (Clarice Lispector and Hilda Hilst).
The course aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the writing of the self in relation to Brazilian literature of the second half of the 20th century with particular regard to the development of fiction, prose poetry and genre writing.
Students who have attended this course and studied the proposed materials will be familiar with the literary forms and the most important figures in Brazilian literature coeval with the two authors who will be examined in depth; they will be familiar with numerous aspects and problems of modern Brazilian literature; they will be able to read and understand Brazilian texts; they will be able to analyse texts by referring them to the historical and socio-cultural context.
The course is intended for 2nd and 3rd year students
Lessons are held in Italian and some texts will be read in Portuguese. The lectures will be in presential mode. The course also includes a number of seminar lectures and conferences held by lecturers from other universities and the presentation of books by writers and translators.
Attendance is not monitored, but is nevertheless strongly recommended, especially for those who have never had any background in Lusophone literature.
Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department's disability liaison.
The course intends to investigate the themes linked to the narration of the self, with particular emphasis on the modernist turning point and the poetics of the 20th century up to contemporary times and the recent modalities of autofiction. In the Portuguese sphere, a pivotal text will be tackled, The Book of Restlessness by Bernardo Soares (Fernando Pessoa), which is indispensable for a reflection (also of a psychoanalytical type) on the inconcio. Still on the Portuguese side, the diaristic and autobiographical dimension in José Saramago will be analysed. On the Brazilian side, space will be given to the existential dimension (also of genre) through the fiction of Clarice Lispector and the poetic prose of Hilda Hilst. Luandino Vieira's Prison Diaries (on the African side) will close the course with a foray into the political dimension of self-narrative.
Key words of the course: narration of the self, autofiction
The course is intended for 2nd and 3rd year students (54 hours, 9 cfu)
Luciana Stegagno Picchio, Storia della letteratura brasiliana, Torino, Einaudi, 1997
Roberto Francavilla, Inocencia Mata, Valeria Tocco, Le letterature africane di lingua portoghese, Milano, Hoepli, 2022
Roberto Francavilla, Quel che il mare non vuole. Letteratura e paesaggio in Portogallo, Milano, Mimesis, 2023
Fernando Pessoa, Il secondo libro dell'Inquietudine, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2008
José Saramago, I suoi nomi, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2023
Hilda Hilst, L'Oscena Signora D, Roma, Castelvecchi, 2024
Luandino Vieira, Scritti dal Carcere, Milano, Mimesis, 2019
Clarice Lispector, un romanzo a scelta fra: Acqua viva, Un soffio di vita, Milano, Adelphi
At least two novels of your choice (one Portuguese, one Brazilian and one African) from a series of titles to be discussed in the first lectures of the course for students who are required to have 6 credits and at least three novels for students who are required to have 9 credits.
Further critical materials will be provided by the lecturer during the course of the lectures
The bibliography is indicative and should be discussed with the lecturer during the module. Non-attending students are requested to contact the lecturer to agree on possible changes to the bibliography..
Ricevimento: The professor meets on Wednesdays in the Portuguese studio on the fifth floor of the Serra Building (santa Sabina) The schedule will be announced as soon as possible
ROBERTO FRANCAVILLA (President)
VIRGINIACLARA CAPORALI
Classes will begin on 1 October with the following timetable: Tuesday 6-7 p.m. Classroom C Language Campus Wednesday 9-11 a.m. Classroom F Language Learning Centre Reception at 11 a.m. (Teacher's office, 5th floor of Palazzo Santa Sabina)
PORTUGUESE LITERATURE AND CULTURE II
The exam will be a conversation in Italian or Portuguese and will consist of questions on the whole course (https:// servizionline.unige.it/studenti/esami).
Students with a certified DSA, disability
or other special educational needs to contact the lecturer
at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that
while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual
individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools
