Contemporary Scandinavian Literature
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
This course aims to present and discuss authors and themes of contemporary Scandinavian literature within their historical and cultural context. Relevant methodological approaches to literary analysis will be used.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will be able to analyze contemporary Scandinavian literature in the original language (partially in Italian translation for BA students) by applying appropriate critical approaches and contextualizing the works in history and culture. They will also be able to identify and discuss problems and issues specific to the topic of the course.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
This course examines contemporary intermedial works drawn from Scandinavian literature and culture.
The course consists of three units. Lessons for units A and B take place in parallel along the term. Unit C consists of individual work and self-study, organized according to the teachers' instructions. Students will attend units A+B for 6 ECTS; they will add unit C for 9 ECTS.
Unit A looks at the artistic representations of Johann Friedrich Struensee in literature, opera, and cinema. Unit B explores the medium-specific narrative potential of comics by discussing three graphic transpositions of tales written by H.C. Andersen and K. Blixen in relation to their hypotexts. Unit C gives the opportunity to deepen the issues connected to rewriting processes by means of a case study investigated by the student (written paper).
This course syllabus is valid until February 2021. From June 2021 onwards, students are required to adopt the syllabus for 2020-21 only.
The course consists of three units. Lessons for units A and B take place in parallel along the term. Unit C consists of individual work and self-study, organized according to the teachers' instructions. Students will attend units A+B for 6 ECTS; they will add unit C for 9 ECTS.
Unit A looks at the artistic representations of Johann Friedrich Struensee in literature, opera, and cinema. Unit B explores the medium-specific narrative potential of comics by discussing three graphic transpositions of tales written by H.C. Andersen and K. Blixen in relation to their hypotexts. Unit C gives the opportunity to deepen the issues connected to rewriting processes by means of a case study investigated by the student (written paper).
This course syllabus is valid until February 2021. From June 2021 onwards, students are required to adopt the syllabus for 2020-21 only.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is taught in the Scandinavian languages and a number of works on the reading list are in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish. A very good knowledge of one Scandinavian language is therefore required.
Teaching methods
Teaching methodologies: lectures, seminarial lessons/class discussions, individual analysis of literary texts and study of secondary literature, written papers.
Teaching Resources
NB MA students are required to read all works in the original language. BA students are allowed to read the works in Italian translation, when available.
Unit A:
- Enquist, Per Olof, "Livläkarens besök", Stockholm, Pan, 1999, or another edition (It. trans. by Katia De Marco: "Il medico di corte", Milano, Iperborea, 2001, or another edition)
- Holten, Bo, "The Visit of the Royal Physician", directed by Peter Oskarson, DVD, Det kongelige Teater, 2010.
- "A Royal Affair", directed by Nikolaj Arcel, DVD, 2012.
- critical and methodological works will be made known on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course
Additional reference works:
- Ospazi, Sergio, "Der Struensee-Komplex. Johann Friedrich Struensee in historischen, literarischen und filmischen Zeugnissen", Utz Verlag, 2018.
- Shideler, Ross, "Per Olof Enquist: a critical study", Greenwood press, 1984.
Unit B:
- Andersen, H.C., "Historien om en Moder", any unabridged edition
- AKAB, "Storia di una madre", Verona, ABE, 2012
- Blixen, Karen, "Den udødelige Historie". In: "Skæbne-Anekdoter", København, Gyldendal, 1958
- Crepax, Guido, "La storia immortale", in "Jekyll e altri classici della letteratura", Firenze, Blackvelvet, 2011, pp. 176-186, OR in Guido Crepax, "Donne inquiete. Allucinazioni e vita privata", Milano, Mondadori comics, 2015, pp. 125-132
- Kukkonen, Karin, "Studying Comics and Graphic Novels", Malden (MA), Wiley Blackwell, 2013, pp. 7-30, 31-53, 73-97.
- Storskog, Camilla, "Historien som fick leva om sitt liv. Guido Crepax serieversion av Karen Blixens 'Den udødelige Historie'". In: "Litteratur inter artes. Nordisk litteratur i samspill med andre kunstarter", eds. U. Langås & K. Sanders, Kristiansand, Portal forlag, 2016, pp. 321-344.
- Storskog, Camilla, "Stripping H.C. Andersen. Peter Madsen's 'Historien om en mor' (or, what a graphic novel adaptation can do that its literary source cannot)". In: "European Journal of Scandinavian Studies", 48: 2, 2018, pp. 303-318.
- Vanderbeke, Dirk, "It Was the Best of Two Worlds, It was the Worst of Two Worlds: The Adaptation of Novels in Comics and Graphic Novels". In: "The Rise and Reason of Comics and Graphic Literature: Critical Essays on the Form", eds. J. Goggin & D. Hassler-Forest. Jefferson, MacFarland, 2010, pp. 104-118.
- Welles, Orson, "Une Histoire immortelle", 1968
Unit C:
Information and materials for unit C will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course. All students are required to discuss with the teachers their personal syllabus for this unit.
Additional materials for ALL units will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course.
Instructions for non attending students will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course.
Unit A:
- Enquist, Per Olof, "Livläkarens besök", Stockholm, Pan, 1999, or another edition (It. trans. by Katia De Marco: "Il medico di corte", Milano, Iperborea, 2001, or another edition)
- Holten, Bo, "The Visit of the Royal Physician", directed by Peter Oskarson, DVD, Det kongelige Teater, 2010.
- "A Royal Affair", directed by Nikolaj Arcel, DVD, 2012.
- critical and methodological works will be made known on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course
Additional reference works:
- Ospazi, Sergio, "Der Struensee-Komplex. Johann Friedrich Struensee in historischen, literarischen und filmischen Zeugnissen", Utz Verlag, 2018.
- Shideler, Ross, "Per Olof Enquist: a critical study", Greenwood press, 1984.
Unit B:
- Andersen, H.C., "Historien om en Moder", any unabridged edition
- AKAB, "Storia di una madre", Verona, ABE, 2012
- Blixen, Karen, "Den udødelige Historie". In: "Skæbne-Anekdoter", København, Gyldendal, 1958
- Crepax, Guido, "La storia immortale", in "Jekyll e altri classici della letteratura", Firenze, Blackvelvet, 2011, pp. 176-186, OR in Guido Crepax, "Donne inquiete. Allucinazioni e vita privata", Milano, Mondadori comics, 2015, pp. 125-132
- Kukkonen, Karin, "Studying Comics and Graphic Novels", Malden (MA), Wiley Blackwell, 2013, pp. 7-30, 31-53, 73-97.
- Storskog, Camilla, "Historien som fick leva om sitt liv. Guido Crepax serieversion av Karen Blixens 'Den udødelige Historie'". In: "Litteratur inter artes. Nordisk litteratur i samspill med andre kunstarter", eds. U. Langås & K. Sanders, Kristiansand, Portal forlag, 2016, pp. 321-344.
- Storskog, Camilla, "Stripping H.C. Andersen. Peter Madsen's 'Historien om en mor' (or, what a graphic novel adaptation can do that its literary source cannot)". In: "European Journal of Scandinavian Studies", 48: 2, 2018, pp. 303-318.
- Vanderbeke, Dirk, "It Was the Best of Two Worlds, It was the Worst of Two Worlds: The Adaptation of Novels in Comics and Graphic Novels". In: "The Rise and Reason of Comics and Graphic Literature: Critical Essays on the Form", eds. J. Goggin & D. Hassler-Forest. Jefferson, MacFarland, 2010, pp. 104-118.
- Welles, Orson, "Une Histoire immortelle", 1968
Unit C:
Information and materials for unit C will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course. All students are required to discuss with the teachers their personal syllabus for this unit.
Additional materials for ALL units will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course.
Instructions for non attending students will be available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students will be assessed through an oral examination in two parts conducted by the instructors. Students are expected to be able to answer questions concerning topics discussed in class and to demostrate the capacity to analyze structural elements of the works studied also with the help of the methodological tools provided by the theoretical texts in the syllabus, as well as to use concepts and techincal terms in a proper way. BA students can choose whether to take the exam in Italian or in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish; MA students will take the exam in one of the Scandinavian languages.
Students taking the course for 9 ETCS are required to write a short essay (between 8000 and 10,000 characters for BA students; between 10,000 and 12,000 characters for MA students). The written essay will focus on one aspect of one of the adaptations studied, the exact topic must be preliminarily discussed with one of the instructors. BA students can choose whether to write the essay in Italian or in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish; MA students will write it in one of the Scandinavian languages. The essay must be handed in no less than 10 days before the exam session for which the student has registered. This essay will be discussed with the instructor during the oral examination and the mark obtained for the essay will average with the oral examination.
Grades are expressed on a 30-point scale. The final mark takes into account the results of the various parts. Students have the right to reject the mark (which will be registered as "ritirato" in this case). In this case they will have to repeat the whole exam.
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the teacher as soon as possible. Students with SLD are required to contact the teacher to plan specific exam activities according to the instructions of the office in charge.
Students taking the course for 9 ETCS are required to write a short essay (between 8000 and 10,000 characters for BA students; between 10,000 and 12,000 characters for MA students). The written essay will focus on one aspect of one of the adaptations studied, the exact topic must be preliminarily discussed with one of the instructors. BA students can choose whether to write the essay in Italian or in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish; MA students will write it in one of the Scandinavian languages. The essay must be handed in no less than 10 days before the exam session for which the student has registered. This essay will be discussed with the instructor during the oral examination and the mark obtained for the essay will average with the oral examination.
Grades are expressed on a 30-point scale. The final mark takes into account the results of the various parts. Students have the right to reject the mark (which will be registered as "ritirato" in this case). In this case they will have to repeat the whole exam.
International or Erasmus incoming students are required to contact the teacher as soon as possible. Students with SLD are required to contact the teacher to plan specific exam activities according to the instructions of the office in charge.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Meregalli Andrea
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Meregalli Andrea
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Storskog Camilla Carita
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Storskog Camilla Carita
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/15 - NORDIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Storskog Camilla Carita
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Storskog Camilla CaritaProfessor(s)
Reception:
Monday, 2 p.m. on Teams or at office. Please contact me in advance in order to organize office hours.
Department of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Mediations. Piazza S. Alessandro, 1