Pre-Columbian Civilizations
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course presents, in a diachronic perspective, an overview of Amerindian and African-American cultures in Latin America/Abiayala. Starting from the study of the continental dynamics of configuration of the imaginaries of the "Indio" and the "Negro" in the colonial era, the course explores a series of contemporary cultural productions through which indigenous and Afro-descendant communities affirm, question and reconfigure their own identity ethnic.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge
Students receive a detailed picture of the trajectories of cultural configuration of indigenous and Afro-descendant identities in Latin America.
Skills
Students acquire the ability to analyze different cultural products (texts, films, music, textiles) through the theoretical-methodological tools of decolonial studies and indigenous epistemologies.
Students receive a detailed picture of the trajectories of cultural configuration of indigenous and Afro-descendant identities in Latin America.
Skills
Students acquire the ability to analyze different cultural products (texts, films, music, textiles) through the theoretical-methodological tools of decolonial studies and indigenous epistemologies.
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
Lessons will begin on Monday 26 February.
The course materials will be inserted on the Teams platform.
The Teams code for the course is as follows: 8qqnxmw
The course, which will take place in Semester II, is titled "Indigenous and Afro-descendant Identities in Latin America" and explores the cultural trajectories of identity formation in Amerindian and Afro-American cultures, with a specific focus on the Andean and Caribbean cultural areas.
In a diachronic perspective rooted in the Spanish conquest in the Atlantic slave trade, the course aspires to provide cultural-historical tools to frame some contemporary cultural productions (literature, film, textiles) through which indigenous and Afrodescendant communities affirm, question and reconfigure their ethnic identity.
The course materials will be inserted on the Teams platform.
The Teams code for the course is as follows: 8qqnxmw
The course, which will take place in Semester II, is titled "Indigenous and Afro-descendant Identities in Latin America" and explores the cultural trajectories of identity formation in Amerindian and Afro-American cultures, with a specific focus on the Andean and Caribbean cultural areas.
In a diachronic perspective rooted in the Spanish conquest in the Atlantic slave trade, the course aspires to provide cultural-historical tools to frame some contemporary cultural productions (literature, film, textiles) through which indigenous and Afrodescendant communities affirm, question and reconfigure their ethnic identity.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held in Italian and Spanish. The exam bibliography presupposes good Spanish and English language skills.
Students who do not know Spanish will not be able to rely on Italian translations; therefore, if interested in the course, they should contact the teacher in advance to assess any adjustments to the program.
Erasmus or other mobility students are admitted, provided they have solid Spanish language skills.
Students who do not know Spanish will not be able to rely on Italian translations; therefore, if interested in the course, they should contact the teacher in advance to assess any adjustments to the program.
Erasmus or other mobility students are admitted, provided they have solid Spanish language skills.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lectures, reading and commenting of some of the passages of the texts to be studied, seminar lessons, group activities.
Teaching Resources
Part A:
A. Melis - "La letteratura andina. Una visione rivoluzionaria della tradizione". In E. Perassi & L. Scarabelli, Itinerari di Cultura Ispanoamericana, UTET, 2011, pp. 55-73.
C. Samboní - "Sobre la existencia de una literatura andina", Utopía 36, 2012, pp. 29-38.
J. Estermann - Cruz y Coca, Abya Yala, 2014.
C. H. Langebaek - Conquistadores e indios. La historia no contada, Penguin Random House, 2023, pp. 13-18; 51-58; 72-76;165-194.
Á. Rama - La Ciudad Letrada, Arca, 1998, pp. 17-40.
M. Cornejo Polar - Escribir en el Aire, CELAPC, 2003, pp. 19-42.
J. Ossio. "Las cinco edades del mundo según Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala." Revista de la Universidad Católica, Lima, 31, 1977, pp. 43-58.
J. M. Arguedas - "El Complejo cultural del Perú", in Formación de una cultura nacional indoamericana, 1975, pp. 1-8.
---
Chaska Anka Ninawaman - Poesía en Quechua - Chaskaschay, Abya Yala, 2004 (selection).
Yana Lema Otavalo - Kampa shimita yarkachini/Tengo hambre de tu boca, Kinti Rikra, 2021 (selection).
Part B:
L. Scarabelli - Identità di zucchero. Immaginari nazionali e processi di fondazione nella narrativa cubana. Vol. 1 - La storia e Vol. 2 - I testi, Arcipelago, 2009 (selezione di capitoli)
I. Bajini - "Esistere senza esistere: il grande ossimoro dell'«uomo nero» nelle Americhe". In E. Perassi & L. Scarabelli, Itinerari di Cultura Ispanoamericana, UTET, 2011, pp. 277-294
M. Arrelucea - "Historia de esclavitud africana en el Perú desde la Conquista hasta la Abolición". In Arqueología y sociedad, n. 15, 2004, pp. 239-278
F. Ortiz - Contrapunteo cubano del tabaco y el azúcar, Cátedra, 2002 (selezione di capitoli)
L. Alicino - "El cuerpo negro de la poesía. Voz y resistencia de las mujeres afroperuanas entre siglo XX y siglo XXI". En Mitologías hoy, vol. 29(29), 2023, pp. 56-73
D. Battistessa - America Latina afrodiscendente. Una storia di (R)esistenza, Arcoiris, 2021
J.F. Manzano - Autobiografía de un esclavo, Omegalfa, 2018 (selezione di passi)
N. Guillén - Motivos del son, Biblioteca virtual, 2003 (selezione di poesie)
M. Carillo Zegarra - Unícroma, disponibile on-line (selezione di poesie)
Part C (9 CFU):
W. Villa e J. Houghston, Violencia política contra los pueblos indígenas en Colombia 1974-2004, pp. 1-122.
Comisión de la Verdad - Informe Final. Resistir no es aguantar. 2021, pp. 35-58.
M. Rocha Vivas, Oralituras y literaturas indígenas en Colombia: de la constitución de 1991 a la Ley de Lenguas de 2010, Revista Contracorriente, 2013, 10.3, pp. 74-107.
J. Duchesne Winter - Caribe, Caribana: cosmografías literarias. Ediciones Callejón, 2015, pp. 1-77.
S. Ferrari - Note sulla nozione di Abiayala. Calle America, pp. 25-41, In pubblicazione.
Analysis of a work chosen from:
- C. Valencia (comp.) - Recuerdo mi origen, IDARTE, 2021.
- H. Jamioy - Danzantes del viento, Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia, 2010.
- F. Chikangana - Espíritu de Pájaro en pozos del ensueño, Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia, 2010.
- V. Almendra - Entre la emancipación y la captura, Grietas, 2016
- Berichá - Tengo los pies en la cabeza, ed. 2022
- M. Rocha Vivas - Antes el amanecer (2010 - Antología) (un capitolo)
- M. Rocha Vivas - El sol babea jugo de piñas (2010 - Antología) (un capitolo)
or one of the following films:
- Cristina Gallego y Ciro Guerra - Pájaros de verano (2018)
- Ciro Guerra - El abrazo de la serpiente (2015)
A. Melis - "La letteratura andina. Una visione rivoluzionaria della tradizione". In E. Perassi & L. Scarabelli, Itinerari di Cultura Ispanoamericana, UTET, 2011, pp. 55-73.
C. Samboní - "Sobre la existencia de una literatura andina", Utopía 36, 2012, pp. 29-38.
J. Estermann - Cruz y Coca, Abya Yala, 2014.
C. H. Langebaek - Conquistadores e indios. La historia no contada, Penguin Random House, 2023, pp. 13-18; 51-58; 72-76;165-194.
Á. Rama - La Ciudad Letrada, Arca, 1998, pp. 17-40.
M. Cornejo Polar - Escribir en el Aire, CELAPC, 2003, pp. 19-42.
J. Ossio. "Las cinco edades del mundo según Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala." Revista de la Universidad Católica, Lima, 31, 1977, pp. 43-58.
J. M. Arguedas - "El Complejo cultural del Perú", in Formación de una cultura nacional indoamericana, 1975, pp. 1-8.
---
Chaska Anka Ninawaman - Poesía en Quechua - Chaskaschay, Abya Yala, 2004 (selection).
Yana Lema Otavalo - Kampa shimita yarkachini/Tengo hambre de tu boca, Kinti Rikra, 2021 (selection).
Part B:
L. Scarabelli - Identità di zucchero. Immaginari nazionali e processi di fondazione nella narrativa cubana. Vol. 1 - La storia e Vol. 2 - I testi, Arcipelago, 2009 (selezione di capitoli)
I. Bajini - "Esistere senza esistere: il grande ossimoro dell'«uomo nero» nelle Americhe". In E. Perassi & L. Scarabelli, Itinerari di Cultura Ispanoamericana, UTET, 2011, pp. 277-294
M. Arrelucea - "Historia de esclavitud africana en el Perú desde la Conquista hasta la Abolición". In Arqueología y sociedad, n. 15, 2004, pp. 239-278
F. Ortiz - Contrapunteo cubano del tabaco y el azúcar, Cátedra, 2002 (selezione di capitoli)
L. Alicino - "El cuerpo negro de la poesía. Voz y resistencia de las mujeres afroperuanas entre siglo XX y siglo XXI". En Mitologías hoy, vol. 29(29), 2023, pp. 56-73
D. Battistessa - America Latina afrodiscendente. Una storia di (R)esistenza, Arcoiris, 2021
J.F. Manzano - Autobiografía de un esclavo, Omegalfa, 2018 (selezione di passi)
N. Guillén - Motivos del son, Biblioteca virtual, 2003 (selezione di poesie)
M. Carillo Zegarra - Unícroma, disponibile on-line (selezione di poesie)
Part C (9 CFU):
W. Villa e J. Houghston, Violencia política contra los pueblos indígenas en Colombia 1974-2004, pp. 1-122.
Comisión de la Verdad - Informe Final. Resistir no es aguantar. 2021, pp. 35-58.
M. Rocha Vivas, Oralituras y literaturas indígenas en Colombia: de la constitución de 1991 a la Ley de Lenguas de 2010, Revista Contracorriente, 2013, 10.3, pp. 74-107.
J. Duchesne Winter - Caribe, Caribana: cosmografías literarias. Ediciones Callejón, 2015, pp. 1-77.
S. Ferrari - Note sulla nozione di Abiayala. Calle America, pp. 25-41, In pubblicazione.
Analysis of a work chosen from:
- C. Valencia (comp.) - Recuerdo mi origen, IDARTE, 2021.
- H. Jamioy - Danzantes del viento, Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia, 2010.
- F. Chikangana - Espíritu de Pájaro en pozos del ensueño, Ministerio de Cultura de Colombia, 2010.
- V. Almendra - Entre la emancipación y la captura, Grietas, 2016
- Berichá - Tengo los pies en la cabeza, ed. 2022
- M. Rocha Vivas - Antes el amanecer (2010 - Antología) (un capitolo)
- M. Rocha Vivas - El sol babea jugo de piñas (2010 - Antología) (un capitolo)
or one of the following films:
- Cristina Gallego y Ciro Guerra - Pájaros de verano (2018)
- Ciro Guerra - El abrazo de la serpiente (2015)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher.
For those taking the 9 CFU exam, it is mandatory to send an analysis of a cultural product according to the methods indicated by the course Team at least seven days before the exam session in which you participate.
The interview has a variable duration depending on the teaching units studied by the student and is held in Italian or Spanish.
The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts of the program, the ability to contextualize the authors and their works, the ability of critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes.
The final grade is expressed out of 30, and the student has the right to reject it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to make timely contact with the teacher. The exam modalities for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher and with the competent Office.
For those taking the 9 CFU exam, it is mandatory to send an analysis of a cultural product according to the methods indicated by the course Team at least seven days before the exam session in which you participate.
The interview has a variable duration depending on the teaching units studied by the student and is held in Italian or Spanish.
The interview aims to verify the knowledge of the texts of the program, the ability to contextualize the authors and their works, the ability of critical and personal reflection on the proposed themes.
The final grade is expressed out of 30, and the student has the right to reject it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to make timely contact with the teacher. The exam modalities for students with disabilities and/or DSA must be agreed with the teacher and with the competent Office.
L-LIN/06 - LATIN AMERICAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professors:
Cantoni Federico, Ferrari Simone
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)