CULTURAL NARRATIVES AND DYNAMICS (ARABIC)

Applying an interdisciplinary approach, the course aims at developing the knowledge of narratives produced in the contemporary Arab world in the fields of literature, cinema and journalism. The course is therefore one of carachterising courses of the Master's degree course in Languages and Civilisations of Asia and North Africa.

Students will be able to:
- understand, analise and translate texts of contemporary Arabic fiction;
- understand and analise Arabic films and documentaries;
- implement the comparative analysis between texts of Arabic fiction and the respective cinematographic adaptations;
- understand and translate Arabic articles concerning political, social and cultural issues.

Arabic Language proficiency corresponding to B1 level of the CEFR.
Knowledge of the history of Arabic literature. Students who have not attended any course related to this subject may read one of the following books:

Allen, Roger. An Introduction to Arabic Literature. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Toelle, Heidi; Zakharia, Katia. A la découverte de la littérature arabe. Du VIe siècle à nos jours. Paris, Flammarion, 2014.

Intertextuality and intermediality.
Narratology.
Translation
Contemporary narrative prose and cinema of the Arab world, with special attention to Egypt, Palestine and Tunisia.
Cinematic adaptations.
Journalism and literary nonfiction.

Nicosia, Aldo, Il romanzo arabo al cinema. Microcosmi egiziani e palestinesi, Roma Carocci, 2014.

Materials provided by the teacher.

Suggested readings:
Camera d'Afflitto, Isabella. Letteratura araba contemporanea. Dalla nahda a oggi. Roma, Carocci, 1998, edizione aggiornata 2007.
Chatman, Seymour. Story and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film, Ithaca(NY), Cornell University Press, 1980.
Genette, Gérard. Figures III. Paris, Soleil, 1972.
Id. Palimpsestes. La Littérature au second degré, Paris, Soleil, 1982.
Nicosia, Aldo. Il cinema arabo, Roma, Carocci, 2007.
Shafik, Viola. Arab Cinema. History and Cultural Identity, Cairo, AUC Press, 1997, revised and updated edition, 2016.

Written and oral examination.
Written test consists of :
- vocalising a brief Arabic text and translating it into Italian ;
- translating a brief text from Italian into vocalised Arabic.
Oral test consists of :
- answering to questions on topics dealt with during the course;
- conversation in Arabic.

N.B.: possible updates on exam modalities related to the Covid-19 emergency will be provided at the appropriate time.

Lectures. Interdisciplinary method. PowerPoint presentations. Textual analysis. Film screenings and analysis.

Italian

written and oral