54
EBRAICO
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
The course aims to equip students with a solid knowledge of the modern and contemporary Jewish literatures and to develop independent critical thinking through the study of literary texts, plays, and films.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- explore the representation of Jewish identity in contemporary literature, drama, and film;
- comprehend the influence of historical and societal contexts on Jewish narratives;
- critically analyse themes of memory, trauma, faith, and assimilation;
- enhance analytical abilities through reading, discussion, and writing assignments.
Prerequisiti
Metodi didattici
Teaching activities will be complemented by practical application of knowledge through hands-on sessions dedicated to critical analysis of literary texts. Through the presentation of works, the reading of excerpts, the description of formal structures, the identification of motifs, and the analysis of themes, students will have the opportunity to develop critical reading skills.
Group work, debate, and interactive learning can be beneficial during this phase as an ongoing exercise to enhance critical reading and deepen textual comprehension. For this purpose, students will be assigned short weekly readings in advance and will be encouraged to actively engage in discussions, presenting their interpretations in class and/or through short essays.
Verifica Apprendimento
For the final assessment, they will select for detailed analysis a subset of literary works (minimum 3) from the provided list. The examination consists of a discussion on the selected readings.
Examination language: English.
Assessment criteria: knowledge of the topics covered in class or in the critical literature; knowledge of the assigned works; ability to carry out critical reading and apply textual analysis techniques; clarity of expression and command of academic language.
Testi
A selection of novels, stories, plays, comics, and films will be illustrated in class. For assessment purposes, students will select a subset of three works from one or more modules to read, analyse, and present for discussion.
For reasons of space, only a list of authors is provided here for each module.
- Bernard Malamud, David Mamet, Cynthia Ozick, Philip Roth, Jonathan Safran Foer.
- Elias Canetti, Franz Kafka, Joseph Roth, Arthur Schnitzler.
- Albert Cohen, Albert Memmi, Patrick Modiano, André Schwarz-Bart, Joann Sfar.
- Giorgio Bassani, Natalia Ginzburg, Elsa Morante.
- Sholem Aleichem, S. An-ski, Michael Chabon, Isaac Bashevis Singer.
- Primo Levi, Alberto Moravia, Art Spiegelman, Peter Weiss, Elie Wiesel.
The following essays and handbooks are intended as suggestions for orientation and further exploration of the topics covered in the course.
- Kramer, Michael P. and Hana Wirth-Nesher, eds. The Cambridge Companion to Jewish American Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
- Liska, Vivian and Thomas Nolden, eds. Contemporary Jewish Writing in Europe. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 2007.
- Sandrow, Nahma. Vagabond Stars. A World History of Yiddish Theater. New York: Harper and Row, 1977.
- Stavans, Ilan. Jewish Literature. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021.
- Volková, Bronislava. Forms of Exile in Jewish Literature and Thought. Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2021.
Selected chapters from these volumes as well as from others may be assigned for analysis and discussion in class or in preparation for the exam.
Contenuti
This course explores a wide range of Jewish-themed literary works, plays, and films from different national and cultural contexts and of diverse linguistic expression (English, French, German, Italian, and Yiddish). A comparative approach will illuminate Jewish cultural expression in different national contexts and across diverse media and genres, delving into central themes such as identity, diaspora, assimilation, trauma, and cultural memory in the Jewish experience of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The course is structured into six thematic modules preceded by an introduction to the subject:
0. Introduction
1. Anglo-American Jewish Literature and Identity
2. Jewish Writers from German-speaking Mitteleuropa
3. French Jewish Literature and Identity
4. Italian Jewish Voices and Themes
5. The Yiddish Heritage
6. The Holocaust in Literature, Drama, and Film
Lingua Insegnamento
Inglese