21th Century Literature
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide a solid basic training in the field of contemporary Italian, European and non-European (but in European languages) literature, according to two perspectives. The first, of a critical, methodological and theoretical nature, aims to intro-duce students to the understanding of the functioning of the contemporary literary system, observed synchronically and against the background of the historical dynamics of the 20th century. The second, of a monographic nature, intends to train them in the critical analysis of single works and paradigmatic authors.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: 1) Understanding of the constitutive roles and functions of the contemporary literary system: author, readership, critical and editorial mediation. 2) Understanding of the interactions between literature and other media. 3) Understanding of concepts and methods for the analysis and interpretation of the text in its various articulations (themes, narrative structures, stylistic, rhetorical, metrical devices); awareness of the plurality of possible perspectives of investigation on literary works. 4) Knowledge of the criteria for bibliographical identification of texts.
Competences: 1) Ability to identify the main expressive features (structural, thematic, sty-listic) specific to a work and to recognise the traits of an author's identity. Ability to de-scribe textual choices as modes of dialogue between author and readers and to situate works in different genres. Ability to correctly employ an appropriate critical vocabulary to describe texts. 2) Ability to recognise the set of functional relationships that define the contemporary literary system, also in relation to other media systems, and to grasp their contribution in shaping the physiognomy of texts. 3) Ability to use the critical and theoret-ical essays in the reading list to support one's own discourse on works and context.
Competences: 1) Ability to identify the main expressive features (structural, thematic, sty-listic) specific to a work and to recognise the traits of an author's identity. Ability to de-scribe textual choices as modes of dialogue between author and readers and to situate works in different genres. Ability to correctly employ an appropriate critical vocabulary to describe texts. 2) Ability to recognise the set of functional relationships that define the contemporary literary system, also in relation to other media systems, and to grasp their contribution in shaping the physiognomy of texts. 3) Ability to use the critical and theoret-ical essays in the reading list to support one's own discourse on works and context.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Part One
- characters and dynamics of the literary system in the 2000s
- A survey of Italian literature between in the 2000s
Part Two
- between autobiography and autofiction: a quadrilogy by Valerio Magrelli
Part Three
- between autobiography and autofiction: John Maxwell Coetzee and Emmanuel Carrère
Students taking the exam for 6 cfu will prepare Part One and a choice of Part Two or Part Three of the course.
- characters and dynamics of the literary system in the 2000s
- A survey of Italian literature between in the 2000s
Part Two
- between autobiography and autofiction: a quadrilogy by Valerio Magrelli
Part Three
- between autobiography and autofiction: John Maxwell Coetzee and Emmanuel Carrère
Students taking the exam for 6 cfu will prepare Part One and a choice of Part Two or Part Three of the course.
Prerequisites for admission
A basic mastery of the tools for text analysis and reading critical contributions.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with use of telematics tools, slides, audio-visual contents.
Dialogic teaching moments.
Illustration of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Dialogic teaching moments.
Illustration of the learning assessment methods and evaluation criteria.
Attendance is optional, but strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Part One
- G. Benvenuti, La letteratura nel sistema mediale contemporaneo, in Ead. (ed.), La letteratura oggi. Romanzo, editoria, transmedialità, Turin, Einaudi, 2023, pp. 3-71.
- C. Tirinanzi De Medici, Il romanzo italiano contemporaneo. Dalla fine degli anni Settanta a oggi, Rome, Carocci, 2018 (limited to chapter 5. "2001-2012").
Part Two
- V. Magrelli, Nel condominio di carne, Turin, Einaudi, 2003; Id., Geologia di un padre, Turin, Einaudi, 2013; in addition to these two works, each student may choose to read V. Magrelli, La vicevita. Treni e viaggi in treno , Bari, Laterza, 2009, or Id., Addio al calcio. Novanta racconti da un minuto, Turin, Einaudi, 2010.
- F. Francucci, Il mio corpo estraneo. Carni e immagini in Valerio Magrelli, Milan, Mimesis, 2013
Part Three
Each student can choose whether to read the works of J. Cotzee or E, Carrère. Those who choose Carrère can choose whether to read A Russian Novel and the First Part of the Kingdom or instead A Russian Novel and Yoga.
1) J. M. Coetzee, Scene di vita di provincia (1997-2009), translated by Franca Cavagnoli and Maria Baiocchi, Einaudi, 2016. Or, in the original language, J. M. Coetzee, Scenes from Provincial Life (1997-2009), Penguin, 2012;
2) Emmanuel Carrère, Un romanzo russo (2007), translated by Lorenza Di Lella and Maria Laura Vanorio, Adelphi, 2023. Or, in the original language, Emmanuel Carrère, Un Roman russe, P.O.L., 2007;
3a) Emmanuel Carrère, Il Regno (2014), translated by Francesco Bergamasco, Adelphi, 2016, limited to the first part. Or, in the original language, Emmanuel Carrère, Le Royaume, P.O.L., 2014
3b) Emmanuel Carrère, Yoga (2020), translated by Lorenza Di Lella and Francesca Scala, Adelphi, 2021; or, in the original language, Emmanuel Carrère, Yoga, P.O.L., 2020.
Further bibliographical indications and supplementary readings for non-attending students will be made available on the MyAriel website of the course.
- G. Benvenuti, La letteratura nel sistema mediale contemporaneo, in Ead. (ed.), La letteratura oggi. Romanzo, editoria, transmedialità, Turin, Einaudi, 2023, pp. 3-71.
- C. Tirinanzi De Medici, Il romanzo italiano contemporaneo. Dalla fine degli anni Settanta a oggi, Rome, Carocci, 2018 (limited to chapter 5. "2001-2012").
Part Two
- V. Magrelli, Nel condominio di carne, Turin, Einaudi, 2003; Id., Geologia di un padre, Turin, Einaudi, 2013; in addition to these two works, each student may choose to read V. Magrelli, La vicevita. Treni e viaggi in treno , Bari, Laterza, 2009, or Id., Addio al calcio. Novanta racconti da un minuto, Turin, Einaudi, 2010.
- F. Francucci, Il mio corpo estraneo. Carni e immagini in Valerio Magrelli, Milan, Mimesis, 2013
Part Three
Each student can choose whether to read the works of J. Cotzee or E, Carrère. Those who choose Carrère can choose whether to read A Russian Novel and the First Part of the Kingdom or instead A Russian Novel and Yoga.
1) J. M. Coetzee, Scene di vita di provincia (1997-2009), translated by Franca Cavagnoli and Maria Baiocchi, Einaudi, 2016. Or, in the original language, J. M. Coetzee, Scenes from Provincial Life (1997-2009), Penguin, 2012;
2) Emmanuel Carrère, Un romanzo russo (2007), translated by Lorenza Di Lella and Maria Laura Vanorio, Adelphi, 2023. Or, in the original language, Emmanuel Carrère, Un Roman russe, P.O.L., 2007;
3a) Emmanuel Carrère, Il Regno (2014), translated by Francesco Bergamasco, Adelphi, 2016, limited to the first part. Or, in the original language, Emmanuel Carrère, Le Royaume, P.O.L., 2014
3b) Emmanuel Carrère, Yoga (2020), translated by Lorenza Di Lella and Francesca Scala, Adelphi, 2021; or, in the original language, Emmanuel Carrère, Yoga, P.O.L., 2020.
Further bibliographical indications and supplementary readings for non-attending students will be made available on the MyAriel website of the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment consists of an oral interview on the topics covered in the lectures. Those who have not attended the lectures must have knowledge of the same topics, studied in the publications indicated in the programme. The assessment aims to test the student's ability to demonstrate the knowledge acquired and to explain it accurately.
Assessment result will be in Thirtieths.
The Erasmus incoming students and international students are invited to contact the teacher as soon as possible .
Assessment result will be in Thirtieths.
The Erasmus incoming students and international students are invited to contact the teacher as soon as possible .
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Ghidinelli Stefano
Part C
L-FIL-LET/14 - LITERARY CRITICISM AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Ballerio Stefano
Professor(s)
Reception:
Fridays, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, by appointment.
Dipartimento di Studi letterari, filologici e linguistici, Modern studies section, second floor