English Culture I
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
Students will be given the opportunity of completing and articulating their linguistic proficiency through the cultural awareness of cultures, arts and literatures defining the English, Anglo-American and Anglophone cultures. Students will be enabled to understand textsfrom heterogeneous cultural areas (literary, critic, cinematic and theatrical). Texts will be selected according to the course program.
Basic theoretical tools belonging to the field of Cultural Studies will be provided, also teaching the students how to prepare a synopsis and how to organize an ffective slide presentation.
Basic theoretical tools belonging to the field of Cultural Studies will be provided, also teaching the students how to prepare a synopsis and how to organize an ffective slide presentation.
Expected learning outcomes
The student must show the ability to understand and analyse texts of various kind, in English, correctly framing them within their cultural and historical context. He/she must be able to analyse their adaptations in different time, space and genres, possibly providing a critical reading of these adaptations. He/she must be able to presento rally his/her when sitting for the exam, organizing contents in the most effective way and following the professor's suggestions during classes or tutorial activities, if proposed.
Lesson period: First 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
A-K
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
In working on cultural mediation, the course focuses on how to deal with conditions of severe disadvantage exploiting the tools of Cultural Studies as an interdisciplinary field. We are going to work on both institutional, "official" texts and artistic representations (including theatre and performing arts) in order to show the intersectional area between storytelling as a literary and artistic practice and mediation in difficult contexts such as various forms of disabilities and discriminations connected to the body.
The course will refer to a wide variety of texts: novels & plays; memoirs reporting on the experience of exclusion or marginality; works of imagination, by themselves helping to depict the experience of being a dropout, films, documentary films, works of art. Events involving novelists, actors and playwrights working on this issue are planned within the frame of the course, and will be communicated in advance. A collaboration with Teatro dell'Elfo is also planned. Students - both attending and non-attending - are invited to participate: the initiatives will be part of the final evaluation.
Unit I- Made (Im)perfect
Unit II - mediating and resisting
Unit III - Wings and other tools to fly
The course will refer to a wide variety of texts: novels & plays; memoirs reporting on the experience of exclusion or marginality; works of imagination, by themselves helping to depict the experience of being a dropout, films, documentary films, works of art. Events involving novelists, actors and playwrights working on this issue are planned within the frame of the course, and will be communicated in advance. A collaboration with Teatro dell'Elfo is also planned. Students - both attending and non-attending - are invited to participate: the initiatives will be part of the final evaluation.
Unit I- Made (Im)perfect
Unit II - mediating and resisting
Unit III - Wings and other tools to fly
Prerequisites for admission
Students must have a general knowledge of the historical context as related to the topics tackled during the course ("knowledge"). In addition, they must be able to understand basic texts in English, both written and visual/aural ones ("understanding"); they must show to possess communicative skills, in English and/or in Italian, so as to render the concepts they want to express comprehensible ("Applied knowledge and comprehension abilities").
Teaching methods
Lecture-based classes, with occasional guest speakers and, whenever possible, workshops in small groups, oriented to develop oral skills in particular.
Teaching Resources
Unit I - made (Im)perfect
ATTENDING STUDENTS:
M. Shelley, Frankenstein, (1818 - any edition)
Matt Haig, The Humans (2018 - any edition)
The Cyborg, (2017; Short Film by William DeCoff and Enku Gubaie - 2017; available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUQU1hQ_P0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUQU1hQ_P0)
D. Haraway, A Cyborg Manifesto (1984; Available online. Optional)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016. (selected chapters)
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS:
M. Shelley, Frankenstein (any edition)
R. L. Stevenson, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (any edition)
Matt Haig, The Humans (2018 - any edition)
D. Haraway, A Cyborg Manifesto (1984 - full text, available online)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012Unità II: Mediating and resisting
ATTENDING STUDENTS
J. Demme, Philadelphia (1993)
Derek Jarman, At Your Own Risk (1994; excerpts)
Claire Cunningham's Theatre (video and materials from her website: https://www.clairecunningham.co.uk/)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
(selected chapters)
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
Derek Jarman, The Last of England (1987; any edition, also in Italian)
Derek Jarman, At Your Own Risk (1994; any edition, also in Italian)
Rebecca Brown, The Gifts of the Body (1994; any edition, also in Italian any edition)
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
Unità III - Wings, and other tools to fly
ATTENDING STUDENTS
V. Woolf, "A Room of One's Own" (1929; selected passages)
Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (1984; any edition, also in Italian)
T. Kushner, Angels in America (1991-1993; Selected passages + film adaptation + theatre)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
(selected chapters)
OPTIONAL
Anna Pasolini, Bodies that Bleed. Matamorphosis in Angela Carter's Fairy Tales, Milano, Ledizioni, 2016)
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
V. Woolf, "A Room of One's Own" (1929; selected passages. Available here: https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/w/woolf/virginia/w91r/index.html)
Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (1984; any edition, also in Italian)
Jeanette Winterson, The Passion (1987; any edition, also in Italian)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012
British History from 1920s to the present day (any text)
Life and works of the three authors mentioned above (general overview)
ATTENDING STUDENTS:
M. Shelley, Frankenstein, (1818 - any edition)
Matt Haig, The Humans (2018 - any edition)
The Cyborg, (2017; Short Film by William DeCoff and Enku Gubaie - 2017; available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUQU1hQ_P0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUQU1hQ_P0)
D. Haraway, A Cyborg Manifesto (1984; Available online. Optional)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016. (selected chapters)
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS:
M. Shelley, Frankenstein (any edition)
R. L. Stevenson, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (any edition)
Matt Haig, The Humans (2018 - any edition)
D. Haraway, A Cyborg Manifesto (1984 - full text, available online)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012Unità II: Mediating and resisting
ATTENDING STUDENTS
J. Demme, Philadelphia (1993)
Derek Jarman, At Your Own Risk (1994; excerpts)
Claire Cunningham's Theatre (video and materials from her website: https://www.clairecunningham.co.uk/)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
(selected chapters)
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
Derek Jarman, The Last of England (1987; any edition, also in Italian)
Derek Jarman, At Your Own Risk (1994; any edition, also in Italian)
Rebecca Brown, The Gifts of the Body (1994; any edition, also in Italian any edition)
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
Unità III - Wings, and other tools to fly
ATTENDING STUDENTS
V. Woolf, "A Room of One's Own" (1929; selected passages)
Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (1984; any edition, also in Italian)
T. Kushner, Angels in America (1991-1993; Selected passages + film adaptation + theatre)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
(selected chapters)
OPTIONAL
Anna Pasolini, Bodies that Bleed. Matamorphosis in Angela Carter's Fairy Tales, Milano, Ledizioni, 2016)
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
V. Woolf, "A Room of One's Own" (1929; selected passages. Available here: https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/w/woolf/virginia/w91r/index.html)
Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (1984; any edition, also in Italian)
Jeanette Winterson, The Passion (1987; any edition, also in Italian)
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016.
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012
British History from 1920s to the present day (any text)
Life and works of the three authors mentioned above (general overview)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attending students will be given the opportunity to sit one or two mid-terms with internal evaluation ("PASS or FAIL"); final evaluation will be reckoned at the end of the oral exam. All students will sit for an oral interview, on the whole of the syllabus or on part of it (for students who decide to take preliminary midterms)
Teaching Unit 1
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Teaching Unit 2
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Teaching Unit 3
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
L-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Thematic list of the topics tackled:
Made (im)perfect
Imperfect body. Unnatural body. Technological body. History and methods of Cultural Studies. Main figures and relevant issues.
Mediating and resisting
Marginal bodies and forms of resistance. Arts and resistance. Telling one's own sickness. Practices of inclusion.
Wings, and other tools to fly - Integrating women. Gender and inclusion. Space and identity.
Made (im)perfect
Imperfect body. Unnatural body. Technological body. History and methods of Cultural Studies. Main figures and relevant issues.
Mediating and resisting
Marginal bodies and forms of resistance. Arts and resistance. Telling one's own sickness. Practices of inclusion.
Wings, and other tools to fly - Integrating women. Gender and inclusion. Space and identity.
Prerequisites for admission
Students must have a general knowledge of the historical context as related to the topics tackled during the course ("knowledge"). In addition, they must be able to understand basic texts in English, both written and visual/aural ones ("understanding"); they must show to possess communicative skills, in English and/or in Italian, so as to render the concepts they want to express comprehensible ("Applied knowledge and comprehension abilities").
Teaching methods
Classroom-taught lessons in Italian with readings from English texts and translation. Video projections in original language and encounters with actors and directors are scheduled, as well as lessons taught by colleagues experts in the themes made object of the course. Course materials and slide presentations will be uploaded regularly on the Ariel website.
Teaching Resources
M. Shelley, Frankenstein (1818-1836, any edition)
R. L. Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886, any edition)
The Cyborg, (2017; Short Film by William DeCoff and Enku Gubaie - 2017; available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUQU1hQ_P0https://www.youtube.com/watc )
film: Philadelphia, di Jonathan Demme
Derek Jarman, At Your Own Risk (1994; any edition)
Claire Cunningham's Theatre (video and materials from her website: https://www.clairecunningham.co.uk/)
/w91r/index.html)
V. Woolf, "A Room of One's Own" (1929; qualunque edizione. Reperibile anche presso: https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/w/woolf/virginia/w91r/index.html)
Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (1984; any edition)
T. Kushner, Angels in America (1991-1993; Selected passages + theatrical performance, optional)
Critical texts:
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016 ("parte prima")
Anna Pasolini, Bodies that Bleed. Matamorphosis in Angela Carter's Fairy Tales, Milano, Ledizioni, 2016
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012
Suggested further readings:
Matt Haig, The Humans (2018 - any edition)
D. Haraway, A Cyborg Manifesto (1984 - full text, available online)
Derek Jarman, The Last of England (1987; any edition)
Rebecca Brown, The Gifts of the Body (1994; any edition)
Jeanette Winterson, The Passion (1987; any edition)
British History from 1920s to the present day (any text)
Life and works of the three authors mentioned above (general overview)
R. L. Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886, any edition)
The Cyborg, (2017; Short Film by William DeCoff and Enku Gubaie - 2017; available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCUQU1hQ_P0https://www.youtube.com/watc )
film: Philadelphia, di Jonathan Demme
Derek Jarman, At Your Own Risk (1994; any edition)
Claire Cunningham's Theatre (video and materials from her website: https://www.clairecunningham.co.uk/)
/w91r/index.html)
V. Woolf, "A Room of One's Own" (1929; qualunque edizione. Reperibile anche presso: https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/w/woolf/virginia/w91r/index.html)
Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus (1984; any edition)
T. Kushner, Angels in America (1991-1993; Selected passages + theatrical performance, optional)
Critical texts:
AAVV, Introduzione ai Cultural Studies. UK, USA e paesi anglofoni. Roma, Carocci, 2016 ("parte prima")
Anna Pasolini, Bodies that Bleed. Matamorphosis in Angela Carter's Fairy Tales, Milano, Ledizioni, 2016
N. Vallorani, Anticorpi, Il Libraccio, 2012
Suggested further readings:
Matt Haig, The Humans (2018 - any edition)
D. Haraway, A Cyborg Manifesto (1984 - full text, available online)
Derek Jarman, The Last of England (1987; any edition)
Rebecca Brown, The Gifts of the Body (1994; any edition)
Jeanette Winterson, The Passion (1987; any edition)
British History from 1920s to the present day (any text)
Life and works of the three authors mentioned above (general overview)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attending students will be given the opportunity to sit one or two mid-terms with internal evaluation ("PASS or FAIL"); final evaluation will be reckoned at the end of the oral exam. Attending students will be given the opprtunity to prepare for the oral exam a PPT presentation of a chosen topic in accordance with themes previously selected by the teacher.
Non attending students will be examined orally, according to the mandatory texts and suggested list of readings.
Non attending students will be examined orally, according to the mandatory texts and suggested list of readings.
Teaching Unit 1
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Teaching Unit 2
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Teaching Unit 3
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)