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Literature and Communication Research Group

Literature and Communication Research Group
Group Leader:  Prof. Dr. Anastasi  Prodani
Email: [email protected]

Members: Dr. Admira Nushi, Dr. Flavia Kaba, Dr. Viola Biti, Dr. Mimosa Dhima and Msc. Edlira Gabili.

This research group aims:

  • to promote cultural Albanian identity through the preservation and transmission of its intangible cultural heritage even in Spanish language;
  • to diversify the tourist offer to promote our intangible culture, unknown or little known to Spanish visitors;
  • to gather additional information along the itineraries that are currently offered, emphasizing the differences but at the same time emphasizing the bridges connecting peoples and serving to regional unity and European values;
  • to design tourist itineraries based on Albanian literature translated into Spanish but also of foreign travelers who have visited Albania over the centuries and which highlight the individuality of Albanians and their role in the history of the region;
  • to cooperate with tourist agencies and other national or international institutions.

In accordance with the document “Scientific research strategy of FFL for the 2022-2024 years the group has drawn up the project:

“How to make our cultural heritage speak Spanish?”

Our Project is  based on  tourist itineraries that are offered today in the Albanian market, mainly cultural ones (with priority those that include three border states according to  EPA Qualification Level Conditions and Requirements, a complementary (additional) itinerary is a must to offer ,in order to ensure  a combination of existing information on the natural and cultural landscapes, (many of which are important archaeological sites registered in the UNESCO World Heritage list) of Albania, combined with the intangible heritage  of the Albanian villages.

The research work of the group is tentatively thought to consist of the compilation of the bibliography and the collection of additional materials along the itineraries in question, where Spanish-speaking visitors will be offered, in addition to coastal and mountainous, rural and urban Albania, a large intangible wealth relating to:

  1. Albanian customs and docks (The Albanian customary law, or the “right of the mountains”, the Code (Kanun) of Lekë  Dukagjini),
  2. Albanian written literature (Albanian novels and mythology translated into Spanish)
  3. Publications of foreign travelers through Albania, which are also known in Spain for eg. Childe Harold.
  4. Difficult legacy of the 20th century, mainly the totalitarian era.
  5. Hot contemporary topics related to black legends about Albania and Albanians, the image of Albania before and after the 90s, but on the other hand, religious tolerance and harmony, hospitality, etc, reflected in the Spanish press.

Specific objectives:

  • Compilation of a supplementary bibliography (mini-bibliography) for students of the master’s degree in Spanish tourism communication, which is related to publications of this nature.
  • Increasing the direct engagement of FFL students in these projects either in master’s courses or in the selection of master’s degree topics, where their best papers are presented at scientific conferences or placed on the website of the FFL or the Ministry of Tourism.
  • Coordination of work with the one-year translation project funded by the FFL for 2023, thus aiming at interdisciplinary cooperation between communication and translation.
  • Publication for students of the “Intercultural communication and tourism in the Spanish language” profile or for guides currently on the market.
  • Modification of the Albanian Literature program in the second cycle of studies Master in “Intercultural Communication and Tourism in Spanish.
  • Concrete efforts to introduce Archeology and Ethnography as compulsory subjects or, if possible, as the two most priority subjects in the group of elective subjects.
  • Proposal of opening one-year professional master’s degree for “Bilingual   National Tourist Guide”, and Spanish will be the first language.

Activities

  • Compilation of the bibliography and establishment of a mini-library
  • Foreign travelers to Albania and Albanians, Byron, etc. + folk creations
  • The image of Albania before the 90s.
  • Black legends for Albanians (Spanish press after the 90s)
  • Ismail Kadare’s novels etc. translated into Spanish with topics related to the interests of the Spanish-speaking tourist: faith, blood feud, hospitality, Cold War, Gjirokastra, Italian – Greek War Legends
  • Musine Kokalari as the first female writer; the theme of her writings; her fate and that of the  intellectual Albanian opposition.
  • The Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini and Customs
  • Drafting of a bilingual glossary of cultural heritage
  • Albanian society during Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship.
  • Vivid biographical & narrative experiences.
  • Religion and religious harmony and tolerance. Bektashism
  • Albanian cinematography with foreign production. Movie recommendations: Banners;

              The Invocation of Enver Simaku.

  • Albanian literature published in Spanish and Hispanic literature published in Albanian before and after the  90s.
  • Modifications in the subject of Tourism Communication by weaving theory with one day practice outside the auditorium.

ACTIVITIES