Contemporary Italian Literature and Publishing System

Consistent with the objectives of the Master's course in ECCM, and in particular with the aim of providing more in-depth study on the editorial culture in its various aspects, the course aims to provide students with a broad historical picture on the relationship between Italian literature and the publishing system in the twentieth century. Special attention will be paid to the literary models developed and formed by the decisions of the publisher based on their identity and the readers they hope to reach. Along the same lines, some prestigious figures of editorial directors and series directors of the past who interwove the literary system and publishing system will be presented, demonstrating how their idea of literature manifests itself in the publications of the editors for which they work, and vice versa how the appearance of the publishers imposes, even to men-of-letters, choices according to the readers wishes. With regard to the situation of the publishing within the present time, some active publishing operators (editorial directors, editors, press editors) will be invited to present in the course of the lessons the manner of today's editorial work.

The very specific re-reading from a publishing perspective of the events of literary culture of the twentieth century will lead to the deepening of knowledge of both literature and editorial work. By focusing on the characteristics and reasons behind editorial decision-making and the way in which many twentieth-century publishers are published, the student will eventually be able, moving from the historical plan of the interweaving between the literary system and the publishing system, to also achieve a theoretical awareness of the relationship between the two systems. At the same time, the student will acquire a particular competence on the editorial characteristics of a book, which will allow them, in the professional field, to recognize the problems posed by the production of different types of publications in relation to the different groups of readers, and to identify the ways in which to deal with different editorial dynamics.