Torquato Tasso's place in Italian studies is often relegated to a quick reading of the Gerusalemme Liberata as the pendant to Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso. Tasso's production, however, was not limited to this epic. His literary-theoretical writings, his dialogues, his vast epistolary, his plays (including the Aminta and Torrismondo) and, of course, the Gerusalemme Conquistata, constitute a significant contribution to Italian literature, literary criticism and intellectual history. It is only in the past fifteen years that the Gerusalemme Conquistata has begun to be rescued from literary oblivion thanks to the efforts of Claudio Gigante and Matteo Residori, among others. This seminar proposes a discussion on Tasso's less-studied (and often less well-known) works. It is hoped that the papers will provide a variety of critical insights and original perspectives on these works. Such a discussion, furthermore, will help contribute to rescuing them from literary obscurity by helping anchor them within a broader Italian and European discourse.

This seminar will discuss Torquato Tasso's less-studied, so-called "Minor" works such as his Dialoghi, his literary-theoretical writings, his plays, his letters and the Gerusalemme Conquistata (among many others). Papers are welcomed on a variety of topics which examine these works and help situate them within the broader context(s) of Italian (and European) Literature(s), Literary Criticism and Intellectual History. 2,500-5,000 word papers will be pre-circulated among participants and 5 minute presentations will consist of a short summary of one's argument.

Chair and Organizer: Bryan Brazeau

Please send 250-300 word abstracts and biographical statements (in English or Italian) to bryan.brazeau@nyu.edu by September 25th, 2010.

NEMLA
April 7-10, 2011.
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.