20710026 - LITERATURE AND VISUAL ARTS

L-FIL-LET/14 LITERATURE AND VISUAL ARTS (12 credits, Bachelor's Degree)

The module aims to analyze the functions and the pertinence of literary writing, considered in the span of relationships that binds it to the most meaningful visual languages of the twentieth century and the first years of the new millennium: such as, above all, cinema and entire system of the figurative arts. These relationships will be established from time to time with respect to a range of social and anthropological themes considered to be of greater importance today, so as to contribute to an intellectual formation capable of being critically oriented in the complexity of our present. Above all, following a path of this type, the continuous intersection that is established today between expressive languages of different origin and function will be privileged, so that the student, at the end of the course, will be able to independently recognize the intermediate intertwining proposed continuously from the current communication system. To this end, specific previous knowledge is not required.



teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

Anthropological mutation or end of the world?
Pasolini, De Martino and the metamorphosis of everyday life.

The course will be divided into two parts. The first part can be thought of as a general introduction to Pasolini's work. The second as a comparative discussion on the theme of anthropological mutation. In the first round of lectures, poetic texts, narrative works, essays, articles and films will be analyzed, reconstructing the itinerary that led Pasolini to focus on the theme of anthropological mutation. Special attention will be given to the last phase of his artistic work, through a cross-reading of essays (Scritti corsari, Lettere Luterane, Descrizioni di descrizioni), the novel Petrolio and the film Salò o le centoventi giornate di Sodoma. In the second round of lectures, we will instead work on the theme of anthropological mutation, comparing Pasolini's analysis with that of other contemporary authors and artists. We will read passages from Ernesto de Martino's The End of the World and then broaden the discussion to other theoretical perspectives straddling theory, cinema and art. Among the authors discussed: Gunter Anders (Man is Outdated); Jean Baudrillard (The Consumer Society; America); Fredric Jameson, (Postmodernism); Peter Sloterdijk (Spheres); Yuval Noah Harari (From Animals to Gods); David Graeber (Magic and Revolution); Fritjor Capra (The Turning Point). Novels and films discussed: Norman Mailer, The White Negro; Lars Von Tryer, Melancholia; Cormac Mc.Carthy, The Road; Annie Ernaux, The Years; Werner Erzog, The Cave of Lost Dreams; Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer.

Core Documentation

Saggi:
E. de Martino, La fine del mondo. Contributo all'analisi delle apocalissi culturali, Einaudi, Torino 2019.
P.P. Pasolini, Scritti corsari e Lettere Luterane (qualsiasi edizione).
S.Consigliere (a cura di), Magia e rivoluzione, Deriveapprodi, Roma 2023

Romanzi:
C. Mc Carthy, La strada, Einaudi, Torino (2006)
A. Ernaux, Gli anni, L'orma, Roma (2015)

Film:
W.Herzog, La caverna dei sogni dimenticati (2010)
L.V.Trier, Melancholia (2014)
C.Nolan, Oppenheimer (2023)


Reference Bibliography

Libri introduttivi all'impostazione generale del corso: Giuseppe Carrara, Laura Neri (a cura di), Teoria della letteratura. Campi, problemi, strumenti, Carocci, Roma 2022. Antonio Somaini, Andrea Pinotti, Cultura visuale. Immagini, sguardi, media, dispositivi. Einaudi, Torino 2016.

Type of delivery of the course

Face-to-face Lectures

Attendance

Attending students will be involved in free textual interpretation exercises.

Type of evaluation

written test