OVERVIEW

Portuguese literature in the second half of the 20th century

The course provides an overview of contemporary Portuguese poetry and prose, from the 1950s to the post-revolutionary phase, highlighting the poetic experience and critical vision of some key authors and the artistic-literary movements of which they were part.

The course is aimed at first-year (master's) students for a total of 54 hours (9CFU)

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim is to outline the course of contemporary Portuguese poetry and fiction after the season of Orpheu and early Modernism. Parallel to the generation of writers linked to the magazine Presença, new literary experiences emerged from the 1950s, profoundly marked by the neo-avant-garde and the reading of foreign poetry (especially French and Spanish), but constrained within a cultural system limited by the political context. 
The course aims to provide students with the critical tools to frame contemporary Portuguese literature within the broader European panorama.

PREREQUISITES

No prerequisites are necessary.

TEACHING METHODS

The first part of the course, taught by a contract lecturer, will focus on poetry. The second part will focus on narrative.

The lectures are held in Italian. The course also includes a number of seminar lectures and conferences held by lecturers from other universities and the presentation of books with the participation of writers and translators.

Attendance is not monitored but is nevertheless highly 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.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The aim is to outline the course of contemporary Portuguese poetry and fiction after the season of Orpheu and early Modernism. Parallel to the generation of writers linked to the magazine Presença, new literary experiences emerged from the 1950s, profoundly marked by the neo-avant-garde and the reading of foreign poetry (especially French and Spanish), but constrained within a cultural system limited by the political context.

The course aims to provide students with the critical tools to frame contemporary Portuguese literature within the broader European panorama.

After a general introduction, which should provide the basis of the literary context of the Portuguese 20th century, texts, authors and artistic trends of the second half of the 20th century will be studied. In particular, the tension between tradition and avant-garde, on the one hand, and that between identity and cosmopolitanism, on the other, will be highlighted, considering as an inflection point the crisis of the Salazarist political system and the democratic turn of 1974-75. These aspects will be highlighted through the observation of the constituent elements of the book of poetry understood as a "collection" and through the reading and analysis of the texts of various authors, with particular attention to the work of Jorge de Sena, Mário Cesariny, Alexandre O'Neill, Sophia de Mello Breyner, António Ramos Rosa, Herberto Helder, Natália Correia, Luiza Neto Jorge, Fiama Hasse Pais Brandão and Al Berto. On the narrative side, particular emphasis will be placed on the relationship between text and power, reflecting on the novel's detachment from the naturalist and neo-realist lesson that is a harbinger of contemporary trends.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Aletti, Adelina (a cura di), Gli abbracci feriti. Poetesse portoghesi di oggi, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980.

Cattaneo, Carlo Vittorio, La nuova poesia portoghese, Roma, Abete, 1975.

Fournier, António, Echi di una canzone sottomarina. Per lo studio del nettunismo nella poesia portoghese contemporanea, in "Submarino. Rivista Luso-Italiana di studi comparati", n. 1, 2015, pp. 133-141.

Russo, Vincenzo; Vecchi, Roberto, La letteratura portoghese. I testi e le idee, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2017.

Tocco, Valeria (a cura di), Breve storia della Letteratura portoghese, Roma, Carocci 2020.

Francavilla, Roberto, Calligrafie morali, Ets, Pisa, 2018

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.Aletti, Adelina (a cura di), Gli abbracci feriti. Poetesse portoghesi di oggi, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1980.

Cattaneo, Carlo Vittorio, La nuova poesia portoghese, Roma, Abete, 1975.

Fournier, António, Echi di una canzone sottomarina. Per lo studio del nettunismo nella poesia portoghese contemporanea, in "Submarino. Rivista Luso-Italiana di studi comparati", n. 1, 2015, pp. 133-141.

Russo, Vincenzo; Vecchi, Roberto, La letteratura portoghese. I testi e le idee, Milano, Bruno Mondadori, 2017.

Tocco, Valeria (a cura di), Breve storia della Letteratura portoghese, Roma, Carocci 2020.

Francavilla, Roberto, Calligrafie morali, Ets, Pisa, 2018

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.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The Master's Degree Course will be taught by two lecturers: Dr Elisa Rossi (36 hours starting in the first semester) and Prof. Francavilla (in the second semester).

With the following schedule

Wednesday 11-13 Classroom I Polo Didattico di Lingue

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of an interview lasting approximately half an hour, aimed at assessing the candidate's knowledge of the course content and reasoning skills. Consequently:

1) Questions will focus on the culture and literary history of Portuguese-speaking countries, the periods, authors and topics covered in class (or included in the list for non-attending students) and on the novels of your choice (see bibliography), some of which – at the lecturer's discretion – will be commented on.

2) The textbooks listed in the bibliography are an integral part of the programme: in addition to verifying that they have been read, the teacher will ask candidates for personal analysis and reflections, and any comparisons and judgements based on the literary knowledge acquired during the course.

3) Students are also required to independently study (from a literary, historical, social, cultural, comparative or interdisciplinary perspective) a topic of their choice that is relevant to the course programme.

Please note that the mark obtained, which will be communicated at the end of the interview, may be rejected. In the event of rejection of the mark or failure of the exam, the candidate may always repeat the test at the next exam session. There is no limit to the number of attempts.

In addition to the annual examination sessions (two in the winter and autumn sessions, three in the summer session), there are special sessions for graduating students, students who have exceeded the standard duration of their studies and Erasmus students. The dates of these sessions will be communicated directly to the students.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam (oral) consists of a conversation lasting approximately half an hour on the main topics covered during the course and a critical reading of the novels listed in the bibliography

Great importance will be given to the ability to navigate the different periods of Portuguese and Brazilian literary history, to contextualise the works and themes studied, and to develop a personal critical judgement on the phenomena considered.