The course offers an overview of multiethnic and multicultural literature through a selective examination of authors, trends and historical contexts related to the United States of America. The literary production examined in the course describes a complex cultural and social experience in which writers continuously negotiate their own identity within the communities they belong to and the United States at large, thus exploring linguistic, racial, generational, gender and economic issues in a socio-historical context that has often evolved at a dramatically fast pace.
teacher profile teaching materials
This course is taught in English.
Alvarez, Julia. “Snow”, in How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. New York: Bloomsbury, 2004 (1991), 86-87.
Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street, London: Vintage, 1991 (1984) (excerpts).
Danticat, Edwidge. “Children of the Sea” and “Caroline’s Wedding,” in Krik? Krak! New York: Soho Press, 1995, 3-25, 135-188.
Gillan, Maria Mazziotti. “Shame and Silence in My Work,” in Mary Ann Vigilante Mannino and Justin Vitiello (eds.) Breaking Open: Reflections on Italian American Women’s Writing. West Lafayette (IN): Purdue University Press, 2003, 153-175.
Lahiri, Jhumpa. “This Blessed House” and “Interpreter of Maladies,” in Interpreter of Maladies. London: Harper UK, 2000, 43-69, 136-157.
Santos, Bienvenido. “Quicker with Arrows”, in Wong, Shawn (ed.) Asian American Literature. A Brief Introduction and Anthology. New York: HarperCollins, 1996, 80-102.
Silko, Leslie Marmon. “Yellow Woman”, in Charters, Ann (Ed.) The Story and Its Writer (9th Ed.) Boston and New York: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2015, 1208-15.
Spiegelman, Art. The Complete Maus. Harmondsworth (UK): Penguin, 2003 (1996) (excerpts).
Tusiani, Joseph. Gente Mia (excerpts), in Ethnicity. Selected Poems, New York: Bordighera Press, 2000, 1-6, 8-9.
Yamamoto, Hisaye. “Yoneko’s Earthquake,” in Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories. New Brunswick (NJ): Rutgers University Press, 2001, 46-56.
Fruizione: 21810259 CULTURE DEI PAESI DI LINGUA INGLESE in Relazioni internazionali LM-52 N0 (A-Z) BECCE NICOLANGELO
Programme
The course focuses on the discussion, from a multiethnic and multicultural perspective, of historical, social, political and economic issues that arise from the reading of the literary selection. Special attention will be given to the analysis of the literary texts in order to understand their relationship with mainstream American literature and the national identity of the United States of America.This course is taught in English.
Core Documentation
Alexie, Sherman. “Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock” and “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. New York: Open Road Media, 2013 (1992), 24-36, 59-75.Alvarez, Julia. “Snow”, in How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. New York: Bloomsbury, 2004 (1991), 86-87.
Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street, London: Vintage, 1991 (1984) (excerpts).
Danticat, Edwidge. “Children of the Sea” and “Caroline’s Wedding,” in Krik? Krak! New York: Soho Press, 1995, 3-25, 135-188.
Gillan, Maria Mazziotti. “Shame and Silence in My Work,” in Mary Ann Vigilante Mannino and Justin Vitiello (eds.) Breaking Open: Reflections on Italian American Women’s Writing. West Lafayette (IN): Purdue University Press, 2003, 153-175.
Lahiri, Jhumpa. “This Blessed House” and “Interpreter of Maladies,” in Interpreter of Maladies. London: Harper UK, 2000, 43-69, 136-157.
Santos, Bienvenido. “Quicker with Arrows”, in Wong, Shawn (ed.) Asian American Literature. A Brief Introduction and Anthology. New York: HarperCollins, 1996, 80-102.
Silko, Leslie Marmon. “Yellow Woman”, in Charters, Ann (Ed.) The Story and Its Writer (9th Ed.) Boston and New York: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2015, 1208-15.
Spiegelman, Art. The Complete Maus. Harmondsworth (UK): Penguin, 2003 (1996) (excerpts).
Tusiani, Joseph. Gente Mia (excerpts), in Ethnicity. Selected Poems, New York: Bordighera Press, 2000, 1-6, 8-9.
Yamamoto, Hisaye. “Yoneko’s Earthquake,” in Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories. New Brunswick (NJ): Rutgers University Press, 2001, 46-56.
Type of delivery of the course
Students are expected to come to class having read all the assigned readings. In addition, they should be prepared to engage in in-class discussions.Attendance
Attendance is mandatory for all classes. If a student misses more than three classes, 2 percentage points will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical emergencies or family emergencies.Type of evaluation
30% Attendance and participation 40% Reading at home and discussion in class 30% Final exam N.B.: During the Summer Session Exam 2019/2020, the assessment will be based on online oral exams.