1) Knowledge and Understanding
Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge and
comprehension skills that extend and/or reinforce those typically associated
with the first cycle and enable them to develop and/or apply original ideas,
often in a research context
2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
By means of
in-depth modules, the main issue proposed by the course will be examined
diachronically and addressed critically through the critical reading of some
texts from German literature. Group work aimed at the development of
independent judgement, cooperative and inquiry-based learning will be
organised. Students are expected to be able to solve problems in new or
unfamiliar areas, embedded in broader (or interdisciplinary) contexts related
to their field of study.
3) Communication skills
Group work will be presented in the course of the
lectures. This presentation will be an in itinere test
and will be taken into account in the final assessment. Communicative skills
will also be assessed during both the in itinere and
final examination. Students are expected to show an ability to integrate
knowledge and manage complexity, to make judgements even on the basis of
limited or incomplete information, including reflection on the social and
ethical responsibilities associated with the application of their knowledge and
judgements.
4) Learning skills
The course aims to provide the tools and illustrate
the fundamental methodologies of the latest literary and transdisciplinary
research, thus fostering a common reflection on learning skills and possible
study and research strategies, thus fostering a common reflection on learning skills and possible study
and research strategies and the ability to study in a self-managed or
autonomous manner.
5) Autonomy
of judgement
Students are expected to
show that they can integrate knowledge and manage complexity, make judgements
even on the basis of limited or incomplete information even on the basis of
limited or incomplete information, including reflection on the social and
ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and
judgements
A - (6 ECTS)
The Technological Imaginary
When observed from the
methodological perspective of literary anthropology, technological development
constitutes a fundamental theme of the European poetic and literary imagination
and has experienced an extraordinary development since the 17th century. The
course aims to develop an investigation about possible reactions, both positive
and negative, to the technological progress of the last three centuries.
In this sense, we will tackle
the study of texts from the fantastic, utopian literature of the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries and then follow interpretative strands that flow into
science fiction and dystopian literature representing the hopes and fears of European
society that still articulate the current discourse.
B - (3 ECTS) From Hot Air Balloons to Space Rockets: Looking the Earth from New
Perspectives
The technology of the hot-air
balloon inaugurated at the beginning of the 19th century gave rise to numerous
conflicting voices and texts proposing further flights of fancy inspired by
this innovation. Air travel is considered both a fulfilment of dreams and
aspirations, and a cause for concern. With this in mind, we will examine some
significant essays by German authors, such as Wieland's satirical essay
"Aeropetomanie" (1783), Heinrich von Kleist's articles on
"Aëronautik" (1810), and some fascinating narratives such as
Stifters' tale "The Condor" and other space travel in order to
critically re-examine the fears and hopes and ethical considerations expressed
in literature, by the new possibility of looking down on the earth from above.
C - (3 ECTS) From machine man to human machine
Starting
with La Mettrie's text L'Homme Machine,
a reflection is developed on the perculiar characteristics and capabilities of
man and of the human body. In the
confrontation with the development of technologies capable of simulating and
replacing or implementing human mental and physical capabilities, the
technological and literary imaginary develops, opening up new perspectives for
the investigation and representation of man, to the point of hypothesising his
overcoming through science fiction, cyberpunk, post-human and trans-human
literature.A - The Technological Imaginary
Two books of following list:
Wolfgang Iser, Das Fiktive und das Imaginäre. Perspektiven
literarischer Anthropologie, Suhrkamp Frankfurt am Main, 1991, pp
158-377.
Klinkert Th., Neuhofer M., Literatur, Wissenschaft und Wissen seit der Epochenschwelle um 1800,
de Gruyter, Berlin, 2008, pp. 17-216.
Callois Roger, Nel cuore del fantastico,
Abscondita 2019, pp. 173.
Todorov Z. , La letteratura fantastica,
Garzanti 2000, pp. 192.
Esselborn Hans, Eine
kurze Geschichte der deutschsprachigen Science Fiction, in “Humains,
plus qu’humains, posthumains”, HS 17 | 2022, p. 79-96, https://doi.org/10.4000/rg.8038
B - (3 ECTS) From Hot Air Balloons to
Space Rockets: Looking the Earth from New Perspectives
Borgards, R. (2005). Experimentelle Aeronautik. In: Blamberger, G., Breuer, I., Doering, S., Müller-Salget, K. (eds) “Kleist-Jahrbuch
2005”. J.B. Metzler, Stuttgart. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-00148-1_11, pp. 11
Eberhard
Christian Kindermann, Vorrede, in :Die Geschwinde Reise auf dem Lufft-Schiff nach der obern Welt, welche
jüngsthin fünff Personen angestellet, um zu erfahren, ob es eine Wahrheit sey,
daß der Planet Mars den 10. Jul. dieses Jahrs das erste mahl, so lange die Welt
stehet, mit einem Trabanten oder Mond erschienen? Der untern Welt zu curieuser
Gemüths-Ergötzung und Versicherung dieser Begebenheit mitgetheilet durch die
allgemeine Fama. Berlin 1744, pp. 1-30. Disponibile al
seguente link: https://books.google.de/books?id=xFHgMQAACAAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=it#v=onepage&q&f=false
Wieland Ch. M, Aeropetomanie (1. Oktober 1783), in: C. M. Wielands Sämmtliche Werke, Bd.30 Vermischte Aufsätze, De
Gruyter, 1797, pp. 1-39, https://doi.org/10.1515/9783112365403-001
Stifter, Adalbert, Der Condor, (1840) CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013, pp. 48.
Verne
Jules, Le Tour du monde
en quatre-vingts jours (1873).
Rudolf Erich Raspe: Münchhausens Abenteuer. Die fantastischen Erzählungen
vollständig aus dem Englischen übersetzt. Frankfurt am Main
2015, pp. 1-49.
C - (3 CFU) From machine man to human machine
Choose one of the following:
Haraway Donna, Manifesto cyborg;
donne, tecnologie e biopolitiche del corpo, Feltrinelli, 2018, pp.
192.
Irsigler Ingo, Orth Dominik (a cura di), Roboter, Kunstliche Intelligenz Und Transhumanismus in Literatur, Film Und Anderen, Winter, 2021, pp.
1-45.
Choose one of the
following:
Kleist, H. von, Il teatro delle marionette,
Melangolo, 2022, pp.80
Hoffmann E.T.A, Die Automate
(1819), epubli, 2020,
pp, 40.
Kafka, Die Verwandlung,
Kultverlag Klassik, 2021, pp. 12.1
Gustav Meyrink: Der Golem, Vitalis Verlag, 2023, pp. 304.
Jünger Ernst, Gläserne Bienen,
Klett-Cotta, 2014,
pp.142.
Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941,
n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only
15% of their content can be copied.
For further information on sanctions and regulations
concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida
sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana
per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association
on Copyright).
All
the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.