Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Lingue e Letterature straniere e Culture moderne

The primary goals of this course are as follows:

1) to become familiar with the historical, cultural, and ideological circumstances surrounding a given piece of literature, and to also explore the development and expression of some fundamental ideas, assumptions, myths, and beliefs that still influence the ways Americans think about themselvesand their society.

2) to develop our ability to read these texts both carefully and critically, and to use textual evidence to support interpretations or opinions.

This course will reinforce the development of reading, writing and critical tools for literary study and interpretation for MA students.

Students will use critical reading methods practiced in the discipline of literature to analyze novels and other texts in their historical and cultural contexts.

They will be able to communicate via oral and written expression scholarly information and insight about the US culture and literature, and they will demonstrate capacity and agility in the use of primary and secondary research in print and online sources and databases.

As other classes in American studies, this course aims at developing abilities of critical thinking, independent study and initiative. Seminar discussions and individual study of the syllabus help students acquire critical and analytical tools for undestanding and conducting research in the field of North-American literature and culture. They also learn to place those texts within theoretical, critical, and historical contexts and to produce written analyses of those texts.

More specifically students will:

1) know and understand the contents of this course;

2) be able to apply knowledge and understanding to the contents, showing how to exemplify the contents of the knowledge learned;

3) acquire an autonomy of judgment (making judgments) on what has been learned and exemplified. They will know how to autonomously connect different scientific sources regarding the same topic, how to argue convincingly on issues related to the themes studied during the course of the semester;

4) show how they acquired communication skills, knowing how to use correctly the Italian language, knowing how to use the discipline's vocabulary appropriately, knowing how to make diachronic and synchronic distinctions between the different topics addressed in the class.

5) acquire learning skills, showing how to compare the contents of the program 
with each other, also moving across the different areas covered during the course 
of the semester. 

Lecture format and seminar meetings

This course is taught IN PERSON and is not suitable for distant learning.

Recording sessions (even partially) is forbidden. Recordings of lessons will not be made available.

Individual study of primary and secondary texts are intended as PREPARATION to the class sessions.

Two written exams during the semester, in the classroom, in English. Students will be required to show their skills in analyzing and contextualizing the texts on the syllabus in a critical and autonomous way. 

There will also be a final oral exam, where the students  will be evaluated in their ability to analyze and contextualize literary texts in a critical and autonomous way. The level of English and communication skills will also be evaluated.

There will be writing sessions, to improve the practice of academic writing.

Lectures and presentations with guests speakers, whenever possible.

For students with physical disabilities, dyslexia, and other specific learning difficulties, please visit the University's support page (https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-con-disabilita) and admission information (https://www.unito.it/accoglienza-studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsaopen_in_newopen_in_new).

The procedures for requesting support during exams can be found here: https://www.unito.it/servizi/lo-studio/studenti-e-studentesse-con-disabilita/supporto-studenti-e-studentesse-con

Oceanic America and the Blue Humanities

This course aims at looking at the United States from the privileged perspective of the sea. America has always been defined by the sea, in terms of exploration, exploitation, expansion and cultural imaginary. By reading some literary texts, and considering other cultural productions, we will investigate and discuss the relation between the sea, the water, colonialism, imperialism, exploration, climate crises, and the American cultures.

https://oceanicamerica.edublogs.org/2025/01/18/oceanic-america-and-the-blue-humanities/

Bibliography:

Thomas Harriot, from A Brief and True Report (provided by the instructor)

Richard Ligon, from A True and Exact History (provided by the instructor)

Narrative of the Life of Paul Cuffe (provided by the instructor)

Herman Melville, Benito Cereno, The Encantadas (to be purchased)

Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing (to be purchased) 

In addition, other required readings will be made available by the instructor.