Excellent all-round language skills in English

The ability to analyse and evaluate contemporary fiction in the broader cultural and social context;
The ability to communicate ideas and arguments effectively, in class discussion and
in written form;
The ability to work collaboratively through discussion and interaction;
The ability to locate relevant bibliographical resources and to use them;
The ability to use a range of information technology resources to assist with
information retrieval and assignment presentation.

Varieties of contemporary British fiction: science and politics

This module will explore two thematic strands of twenty-first-century British fiction. The first part of the module will focus on novels that tackle questions related to recent scientific and technological developments, from cloning to transhumanism; the second part will consider novels written in the wake of the 2016 Brexit referendum, which were marketed as 'Brexit novels'. In both cases, we will discuss how literary fiction, responding to contingent solicitations, contributes to shaping public debates around controversial issues.

In the first part, 'Science', we will consider questions related to the shifting boundaries between human bodies and machines, the ethics of robotics, utopian and dystopian futures, the personhood of androids, the relationship between human and non-human or quasi-human entities, the predicaments of clones and other riveting questions that contemporary novelists address in their fiction in many interesting ways, soliciting us, the readers, to reflect on our post-human condition.

In the second part, 'Politics', we will investigate how novelists have used fiction to explore social, emotional and political issues related to the divisive climate prevailing before and after the Brexit referendum, analysing the narrative strategies authors deploy to reflect upon crucial societal and cultural issues affecting the political life of the country as well as individual perceptions of insecurity and uncertainty.


Primary sources

1. Ishiguro Kazuo, Never Let Me Go, 2005
2. McEwan Ian, Machines like me (and people like us), 2019
3. Winterson Jeanette, Frankissstein, A Love Story, 2019
4. Smith Ali, Autumn, 2016
5. Cartwright Anthony, The Cut, 2017
6. Coe Jonathan, Middle England, 2018
7. Craig Amanda, The Lie of the Land, 2017


A list of secondary sources -- comprising essays, reviews and book chapters to help students gain a deeper understanding of the problems addressed in the novels - will be provided at the start of the semester. All texts will be made available in PDF format.

• 1.  (A) Kazuo Ishiguro Never Let Me Go Qualsiasi, UK, 2005
• 2.  (A) Ian McEwan Machines like Me Qualsiasi, Uk, 2019
• 3.  (A) Jeanette Winterson Frankissstein Qualsiasi, UK, 2019
• 4.  (A) Cartwright, Anthony The Cut Peirene Press, UK, 2017
• 5.  (A) Ali Smith Autumn Qualsiasi, UK, 2016
• 6.  (A) Jonathan Coe Middle England Qualsiasi, UK, 2018
• 7.  (A) Amanda Craig The Lie of the Land Qualsiasi, UK, 2017

I romanzi saranno tutti analizzati e spiegati in classe. Lo studente dovrà scegliere TRE romanzi da portare all'esame. Trattandosi di testi molto recenti, la bibliografia critica è scarna: i libri di O'Tool e Eaglestone forniscono un quadro di riferimento generale per capire l'impatto culturale del fenomeno Brexit. Ulteriori letture critiche sul contesto storico, sociale e culturale verranno messe a disposizione degli studenti all'inizio del corso.

• Lezioni frontali dialogate, come previsto dalla normativa italiana. Per stimolare la discussione e la partecipazione, agli studenti verrà chiesto di preparare una presentazione orale (10-15 min.) su uno o due dei testi in programma, individualmente o in piccoli gruppi (max 3 persone). Il topic specifico è a scelta degli studenti, ma viene concordato con la docente preventivamente.
  
  This is a lecture-based module, in accordance with the standard Italian framework for academic teaching which demands this format. However, to stimulate participation in class discussion, students will be asked to prepare an oral presentation (10 to 15 mins), individually or in a small group (max 3 people) about texts included in the syllabus. They are free to chose the specific topic of their presentation.
  

• Saggio critico in inglese (circa 2.500 parole) con la bibliografia delle fonti citate, da
  consegnare via email 10 gg prima dell'appello orale. Si deve saper argomentare in
  modo appropriato, analizzare criticamente i testi proposti e avere una buona capacità
  espositiva in inglese. Criteri voto: capacità di esprimersi in modo corretto in inglese
  (50%); di costruire l'argomentazione e di entrare in dialogo con le fonti critiche
  (25%); analisi critica (25%)
  Prova orale: presentazione in classe di circa 15 min. in inglese. Si deve dimostrare di saper comunicare oralmente, con buona pronuncia, i risultati delle proprie analisi; di saper organizzare e presentare le informazioni in forma sintetica; di aver letto la bibliografia e di aver meditato criticamente sulle principali tematiche proposte.Criteri voto: proprietà di linguaggio (30%); pronuncia inglese (20%); analisi critica (25%);
  comprensione di testi e bibliografia critica (25%).
  

inglese

inglese