Modern Languages and Cultures » IT302 Discussion Forum

Handouts

Joanne Lee — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 17:12:06 GMT

Hi - I've attached the handouts here on a password protected page, rather on the main website. Do let me know if anything is missing.
Jo

Attachments (follow link to download)

week_1_an_introduction_to_feminisms.docx (19 KB)
week_2_italian_womens_writing_and_the_canon.docx (19 KB)
week_3_a_social_history_of_women_in_20th_century_italy.docx (22 KB)
week_4_feminist_groups_and_1970s_movement.docx (20 KB)
week_5_abortion_referendum_and_debates.docx (16 KB)

Interesting article on women writers and Elena Ferrante's anonymity

Joanne Lee — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 13:36:41 GMT

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-unmasking-of-elena-ferrante

Seminar questions for L'amore molesto

Joanne Lee — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:33:07 GMT

1) To what extent are Amalia and Delia constrained by the patriarchal values their family espouses? How far do they transgress these values?
2) In how far do patriarchal values alienate mother and daughter?
3) Explore the metaphor of journey in the novel.
4) ‘Seppi che stavo perdendo mia madre definitivamente e che era esattamente quello che volevo’. Why does Delia want to ‘lose’ her mother?
5) ‘[Delia’s] approach to her native, carnal city resembles her reaction of revulsion towards the loved/hated figure of her mother.’ (Mazierska and Rascaroli, From Moscow to Madrid: Postmodern Cities, European Cinema). Discuss.
6) What role does sexuality play in the mother-daughter relationship? How accepting is Delia of her mother’s sexuality?
7) ‘Mi resi conto con tenerezza inattesa che invece avevo Amalia sotto la pelle come un liquido caldo che mi era stato iniettato chissà quando.’ To what extent does Delia rediscover her mother?
8) ‘Mi resi conto con tenerezza inattesa che invece avevo Amalia sotto la pelle come un liquido caldo che mi era stato iniettato chissà quando.’ To what extent does Delia rediscover her mother?
9) Is L’amore molesto a good title? Of the various English translations (Nasty Love, Troubling Love, and Harrassing Love), which one do you think is the most appropriate?

The Case Against Contemporary Feminism

A guest user — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 22:16:25 GMT

I found this quite interesting... http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-case-against-contemporary-feminism

Week 5: Seminar on Lettera a un bambino mai nato

Joanne Lee — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 18:30:25 GMT

Hi everyone,

Here are the seminar questions for this week on Fallaci for those of you who are not doing the presentation,

See you on Friday,
Jo

1. Comment on the opening chapter, particularly the bodily reaction to the pregnancy (Elspeth)
2. Comment on chapter 3. What view of motherhood and language is presented? (Rosie)
3. Comment on the portrayal of medical profession in the text (see esp. Chapter 6). (Eleonora)
4. How does Fallaci comment on the construction of gender in Chapter 4? (Lauren)
5. What support does the protagonist get from female friends? (Laura)
6. What views on religion are expressed? (esp. Chapter 4 & 9) (Dan)
7. How are male figures, in particular the father of the child, portrayed? (Manon)
8. What is the significance of the dream in chapter 9? (Claudia)
9. What is the significance of the tale related in chapter 25? (Olivia)
10. Comment on the imaginary ‘trial’. (Chapter 27) (Anna)
11. Both sides of the abortion debate claimed that Fallaci’s text supported their view. What do you think? Is the text pro-choice or anti-abortion? Is it even about abortion or does it raise other issues? (Astrid, Simona – although you can all have a view on this)

Week 4: Carla Lonzi

Joanne Lee — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 14:35:05 GMT

Please read the Carla Lonzi article 'Sputiamo su Hegel' (Let's Spit on Hegel) for next week (week 4). It is available via Library extracts (link on the reading list). It is incorrectly labeled as 'Bono' as it is in an edited collection. Let me know if you have any difficulties finding it.

Have a think about the following topics which we will discuss in class:

• How does Lonzi’s article present a challenge to liberal feminist aims (i.e. what does she say about the goal of achieving equality)?
• How does she challenge Marxist thinking?
• What are her views on Freud? And Hegel?
• What does Lonzi say about the goal of achieving power?
• What does Lonzi believe is the origin of women’s oppression?
• What solutions/ courses of actions does she propose?

Seminar Questions on Donna in guerra

Joanne Lee — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 14:35:25 GMT

1. Comment on the relationship between Vannina and Giacinto, in particular their sexual relationship. 11, p. 23.(3 agosto; 6 agosto). How does it develop? (Georgina)
2. What is the significance of the relationship between Giacinto & Santino (Simona) and between Vannina and the schoolboy / Orio? (Eleonora.)
3. What is the significance of the problems with the neighbours and their rubbish? (Kerry)
4. What episodes of violence occur in the text and what role do they play in the narrative? (Marta)
5. What is the role of female friendships in the text? How does Vannina’s relationship with Rosa differ from her relationship with Suna? (Laura) What about Giottina and Tota? (Cicely)
6. How is Giacinto presented in the text? Look at the descriptions of him sleeping on pp. 11 & 18 (3 agosto, 5 agosto). Why does he want Vannina to remain dependent on him (p. 140) (30, 31 agosto) (Astrid)
7. Look at the episode at Santino’s house. What notion of masculinity is presented here? How does the mother react? pp. 34, 37, 7 agosto. (Manon)
8. How does Suna’s father view his daughter (pp. 163-4 – 4 settembre, ore 24)? (Dan)
9. What is Suna’s role in relation to Vannina? pp. 64 (15 agosto), 90 (20 agosto), pp. 137-8 (30 agosto) (Maria)
10. Comment on the episode at school with Maria Stella (p. 256, 12 ottobre) (Lauren)
11. Comment on Vannina’s dream on p. 265-6, 3 dicembre. How would you interpret this? (Elspeth)

Re: Article from the Guardian on Elena Ferrante

Joanne Lee — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 16:07:30 GMT

And another... if you get chance before tomorrow, have a read of one of these articles from the Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/15/who-italian-novelist-elena-ferrante

Re: Article from the Guardian on Elena Ferrante

Joanne Lee — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:41:50 GMT

And another one:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/01/21/women-on-the-verge

Article from the Guardian on Elena Ferrante

Joanne Lee — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 18:19:53 GMT

I found this interesting article from the Guardian about one of the authors that we will be studying: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/31/elena-ferrante-literary-sensation-nobody-knows

General Comments and Questions

Joanne Lee — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 18:21:56 GMT

This section is for any comments or questions related to the module and assessment.