After the study of nahdah, we continue to the overview of the twentieth century Arabic literature up to our days. Because of historical and political difficulties of the Arab countries from the twentieth century onwards, one element in common between different Arab countries is adab al-iltizàm (commitment literature). Several literary voices will be studied, some of them emerging, others already well known, in addition to literary currents (anti-colonial literature, prison literature, exile literature), which represent the writing of resistance and rebellion against all oppressive policies, foreign or local, old and new. The course includes the historical-political framework of the Arab countries, in addition to reading, analysis and translation of extracts from literary works studied in class.
Texts:
- (edit. by Y. Albers, G. Khalil, F Pannewick), "Commitment and Beyond: Reflections on/of the Political in Arabic Literature since the 1940s" Dr Ludwig Reichert Verlag, 2015, ISBN: 978-3-95490-613-0 (Introduction, Aboubakr, Botros, Khoury, Guth, Atassi, Antoon, al-Arissi, Milich). The book is available online.
- (a cura di L. Karami e M. Ferrara), “Madri d’Oriente fra tradizione e dissenso”, Jouvence, Milano ( I section).
N. B: Each student is invited to read at least two novels (or collections of stories or poems), translated from Arabic into Italian. Texts in Arabic and further bibliographical updates will be provided during the lectures.