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Lecturer(s)
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Kořenský Jan, prof. PhDr. DrSc.
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Course content
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(1) How to read? Basic introduction to the problems of semiotics and theory of meaning, the type of questions that semiotics seeks to answer and the types of answers that may be found in texts vby Ajvaz, Borges and Calvino (2) Italo Calvino: Cosmicomics Definition of sign, emergence of sign/meaning, neutrality of (scientific) description (3) Jorge L. Borges: The Garden of Forking Paths Ontology of sign, relation between signs and subjects, knowledge as construction of rules (4) Italo Calvino: Invisible Cities Cartography of meaning, metaphor of city and map, uniqueness and categories (5) Jorge L. Borges: Artifices Problems of memory, arbitrariness and motivation, sign as category (6) Calvino, Italo: Castle of Crossed Destinies Combination and game of cards as a metaphor of structure and narration (7) Ajvaz, Michal: The Golden Age City and the problem of rules (of game), completeness (of text and interpretation) (8) Italo Calvino: Difficult Loves Semiotic problems of interpretation and communication, sign and reality (9) Michal Ajvaz: Cesta na jih (Brno: Druhé město 2008.) Motivation of meaning and organization of structure, compositionality (10) Italo Calvino: If on a Winter's Night a Traveller Metasemiosis, metaphor of reading, problems of code, counterfeit (11) Michal Ajvaz: Prázdné ulice Semiotic problems of interpretation, problems of the "correct" interpretation, structure(-alism) and art (12) Adolfo Bioy Casares: The Invention of Morel Sign and reality, end of semiosis/sign?
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook)
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Learning outcomes
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The class aims to, based on critical reading of works by Michal Ajvaz, Jorge L. Borges and Italo Calvino, formulate the basic questions and answers of semiotics. On one hand, it strives to introduce to students three (or four) writers with regard to specific manners of their respective narrative strategies (their basic narrative methods, the manner in which text constructs space, the manner in which it works with time, the role of narrator, the basic thematic structure of the selected texts, etc.). It however uses these foundations to - as a certain form of experiment - interpret all these findings through the lens of semiotics, that is to say, as bona fide theories that should provide solutions to the same problems as are addressed by modern semiotics, especially those related to emergence, existence, destruction and organization of signs. The class does not aim to provide a complete semiotic theory, history of the discipline, or to unequivocally relate motifs to concepts discussed in specialized literature, students should nevertheless be able to characterize in its basic features semiotics as study of signs, as a distinctly defined point of view on the problems of meaning and interpretation.
Knowledge of fiction authored by M. Ajvaz, J. L. Borges and I. Calvino; ability of critical analysis with respect to main findings of modern semiotics
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Prerequisites
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unspecified
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Student performance, Systematic Observation of Student
(1) Regular presence (no more than 2 unexcused absences) (2) Required reading (3) In-class presentation
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Recommended literature
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Ajvaz, M. (2004). Prázdné ulice. Brno: Nakladatelství Petrov.
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Ajvaz, M. (2006). Příběh znaků a prázdna. Brno: Druhé město.
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Ajvaz, Michal. (2008). Cesta na jih. Brno.
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Bioy Casares, A., Kokolia, V., & Vrhel, F. (1988). Morelův vynález. Praha: Odeon.
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Block de Behar, L. (2003). Borges. The Passion of and Endless Quatation. Albany.
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Bloch, W. G. (2008). The Unimaginable Mathematics of Borges? Library of Babel. Oxford.
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Borges, J. L., & Machová, M. (2005). Ars poetica. Praha: Mladá fronta.
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Borges, J. L., Vrhel, F., Forbelský, J., Uhlíř, K., & Vrhel, F. (1989). Zrcadlo a maska. Praha: Odeon.
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Calvino, I., & Ripellino-Hlochová, E. (1968). Kosmické grotesky. Praha: Československý spisovatel.
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Calvino, I., Hořký, V., & Sivko, P. (1986). Neviditelná města. Praha: Odeon.
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Calvino, I. (1978). Nesnadné lásky. Praha.
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Calvino, I., Pelán, J., & Pelán, J. (1998). Když jedné zimní noci cestující. Praha: Mladá fronta.
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Cavallaro, D. (2010). The Mind of Italo Calvino. A Critical Exploration of His Thought and Writing. Jefferson - London.
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Císař, K., & Koťátko, P. (2004). Text a dílo: případ Menard. Praha: Filosofia.
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Fishburn, E. & Hughes, P. (1990). A Dictionary of Borges. London.
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Frisch, M. F. (2004). You Might Be Able To Get There From Here. Reconsidering Borges And The Postmodern. Madison - Teaneck.
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Markey, C. (1999). Italo Calvino. A Journey toward Postmodernism. Gainsville.
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