Overview
Aims
to include the most important moments of the Romanian literary exile, in chronological evolution, within European culture into a coherent structure
to practice close reading
to write a synthesis essay on the most important Romanian writers in Exile
Course contents
1. General overview of The Romanian Exile after World War II: problems regarding the terminology; special cases boundaries. Fundamental problems of literary exile: cultural identity, adapting problems (changing languages, literary productivity, aesthetic strategy, the type of reader, the ethical significance in the literature).
2. „Waves” of exile (periodization); regions; "Exile groups". Associations, magazines, publishing houses, cultural communication in exile. General overview of Romanian press in exile.
3. „Exile before exile”: Dora d’Istria, Ana de Noailles, Martha Bibescu, Elena Văcărescu, Iulia Hasdeu. A "case" difficult to classify: Panait Istrati. A Romanian writer in the American literary space: Peter Neagoe. A Romanian writer in South America: Grigore Cugler-Apunake.
4. Political Exile – the „Old Generation”: Mircea Eliade, Eugen Ionescu, Emil Cioran, Vintilă Horia, C. V. Gheorghiu, Ştefan Baciu, Aron Cotruş, Pamfil Şeicaru, Al. Busuioceanu, Al. Ciorănescu.
5. The Exile during the Ceauşescu period (the ’60s-’70s): Petru Popescu, Matei Călinescu, Virgil Nemoianu, I. P. Culianu, Sanda Golopenţia, Constantin Eretescu; Sanda Stolojan, Virgil Ierunca, Monica Lovinescu, Paul Goma, Dumitru Ţepeneag, Virgil Tănase, Alexandru Vona; I. Negoiţescu, S. Damian, Gelu Ionescu, Sorin Alexandrescu, Gabriela Melinescu, Emil Hurezeanu.
6. The Exile during Ceausescu's communist regime (the ’80s): Ion Caraion, Nicolae Balotă, Norman Manea, Bujor Nedelcovici, Dorin Tudoran, Mircea Iorgulescu, Matei Vişniec.
7 Artistic exile: A Workshop. The Cultural Diaspora: Ionel Jianu, Pavel Chihaia, Ion Vlad, George Apostu, Horia Damian, Camilian Demetrescu etc.
Learning outcomes
A synthesis essay regarding the recovery of the literature from exile after 1989: assessment and values, "signifiers" of the literary exile; cultural policy controversies related to the concept of "exile" and current research.
Assessment
• Conversation; free exposition – 25% • Applications; essay writing; portfolio, project – 25% • Written paper, quiz; test - 50%