Portuguese and Brazilian Studies (MA)
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at proposing an approach to the study of the literary memory of the dictatorship of Estado Novo in Portugal (1933-1974) and the Regime Militar in Brazil (1964-1985). An introduction to the historical and socio-political processes of the two dictatorships is proposed, also from a comparative point of view. The critical and narratological analysis of three classic Portuguese novels and three classic Brazilian novels will be accompanied by a deepening on the theories of the representation of memory and of memory studies.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: to acquire the essential political and historiographical concepts to recognize dictatorial processes in Brazil and Portugal, understanding of elements of narratology to read critically novels, to learn about the main theories of memory studies. Applying knowledge and understanding: to grasp the historical and cultural implications of the evolution of literary representations of social memory of two Dictatorships. To know the political and socio-economical and literary lexicon applied to the two Dictatorships.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is titled The legacies of the South Atlantic: thought, literary memory and resistance and consists of the following three parts:
The course will start from the conceptualisation of the Atlantic Sul in order to understand not only the historical formation of Brazil but also its role as a geopolitical and symbolic space in which the 'specificity' of the Portuguese colonial system is articulated with respect to the central imperial systems and to an alleged black atlantic.
The course will be divided into three parts: in the first part, we will linger on the conceptual history of the Atlantic Sul that will allow us to grasp the distinctive trait of the historical formation of Brazil (Alencastro) and the ontological fragility of subaltern colonialism such as Portuguese colonialism. In the second part we will analyse how Brazil becomes in the twentieth century a space of ideological legitimation of colonialism through Lusotropicalism: the deconstruction of Freyre's sociological pseudo-theories realised in Brazil and outside of Brazil (in Portugal and Africa) will be the object of our analysis, as well as the counter-representation offered by Afro-Brazilian feminist thought since the 1970s.
The third part will focus on some literary texts by Portuguese-speaking writers who question the rhetoric that has governed the narration of this geopolitical space or who re-appropriate it in an anti-racist and anti-colonial key.
The course is titled The legacies of the South Atlantic: thought, literary memory and resistance and consists of the following three parts:
Part A (20 hours): South Atlantic: a brief history of the concept (Brazil, Portugal, Africa)
Part B (20 hours): Deconstructing lusotropicalism
Part C (20 hours): Literary representations
The course provides 9 credits. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
The course program is valid until September 2025.
The course will start from the conceptualisation of the Atlantic Sul in order to understand not only the historical formation of Brazil but also its role as a geopolitical and symbolic space in which the 'specificity' of the Portuguese colonial system is articulated with respect to the central imperial systems and to an alleged black atlantic.
The course will be divided into three parts: in the first part, we will linger on the conceptual history of the Atlantic Sul that will allow us to grasp the distinctive trait of the historical formation of Brazil (Alencastro) and the ontological fragility of subaltern colonialism such as Portuguese colonialism. In the second part we will analyse how Brazil becomes in the twentieth century a space of ideological legitimation of colonialism through Lusotropicalism: the deconstruction of Freyre's sociological pseudo-theories realised in Brazil and outside of Brazil (in Portugal and Africa) will be the object of our analysis, as well as the counter-representation offered by Afro-Brazilian feminist thought since the 1970s.
The third part will focus on some literary texts by Portuguese-speaking writers who question the rhetoric that has governed the narration of this geopolitical space or who re-appropriate it in an anti-racist and anti-colonial key.
The course is titled The legacies of the South Atlantic: thought, literary memory and resistance and consists of the following three parts:
Part A (20 hours): South Atlantic: a brief history of the concept (Brazil, Portugal, Africa)
Part B (20 hours): Deconstructing lusotropicalism
Part C (20 hours): Literary representations
The course provides 9 credits. It is not possible to acquire only 6.
The course program is valid until September 2025.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is planned for first and second year students of the master's degree. The lessons will be taught in Portuguese.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: lectures and moments of discussion in which students provide a critical reworking of the proposed literary and critical texts.
Teaching Resources
The course will start from the conceptualisation of the Atlantic Sul in order to understand not only the historical formation of Brazil but also its role as a geopolitical and symbolic space in which the 'specificity' of the Portuguese colonial system is articulated with respect to the central imperial systems and to an alleged black atlantic.
The course will be divided into three parts: in the first part, we will linger on the conceptual history of the Atlantic Sul that will allow us to grasp the distinctive trait of the historical formation of Brazil (Alencastro) and the ontological fragility of subaltern colonialism such as Portuguese colonialism. In the second part we will analyse how Brazil becomes in the twentieth century a space of ideological legitimation of colonialism through Lusotropicalism: the deconstruction of Freyre's sociological pseudo-theories realised in Brazil and outside of Brazil (in Portugal and Africa) will be the object of our analysis, as well as the counter-representation offered by Afro-Brazilian feminist thought since the 1970s.
The third part will focus on some literary texts by Portuguese-speaking writers who question the rhetoric that has governed the narration of this geopolitical space or who re-appropriate it in an anti-racist and anti-colonial key.
The course is titled The legacies of the South Atlantic: thought, literary memory and resistance and consists of the following three parts:
Part A (20 hours): South Atlantic: a brief history of the concept (Brazil, Portugal, Africa)
Part B (20 hours): Deconstructing lusotropicalism
Part C (20 hours): Literary representations
The course provides 9 credits.
The course program is valid until September 2025.
The course will be divided into three parts: in the first part, we will linger on the conceptual history of the Atlantic Sul that will allow us to grasp the distinctive trait of the historical formation of Brazil (Alencastro) and the ontological fragility of subaltern colonialism such as Portuguese colonialism. In the second part we will analyse how Brazil becomes in the twentieth century a space of ideological legitimation of colonialism through Lusotropicalism: the deconstruction of Freyre's sociological pseudo-theories realised in Brazil and outside of Brazil (in Portugal and Africa) will be the object of our analysis, as well as the counter-representation offered by Afro-Brazilian feminist thought since the 1970s.
The third part will focus on some literary texts by Portuguese-speaking writers who question the rhetoric that has governed the narration of this geopolitical space or who re-appropriate it in an anti-racist and anti-colonial key.
The course is titled The legacies of the South Atlantic: thought, literary memory and resistance and consists of the following three parts:
Part A (20 hours): South Atlantic: a brief history of the concept (Brazil, Portugal, Africa)
Part B (20 hours): Deconstructing lusotropicalism
Part C (20 hours): Literary representations
The course provides 9 credits.
The course program is valid until September 2025.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral test. Attending students will be able to access several ongoing tests to get prepared for the final exam.
The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be established with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher promptly. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be established with the teacher, in agreement with the competent Office.
L-LIN/08 - PORTUGUESE AND BRAZILIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Russo Vincenzo
Professor(s)