Course Description

A study of one or more periods, trends, or themes in Italian cinema combined with a critical analysis of selected movies by one or more auteurs.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to read more secondary material (usually criticism and scholarship dealing with the movies discussed in class) and are tested on it when they take the final exam (which is different from the final exam taken by the undergraduates). Furthermore, they are required to write a longer and more thorough research paper (usually 15 to 20 typewritten pages). Depending on the instructor, other specific requirements may be required of the graduate students (such as oral presentations).

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Athena Title

Italian Cinema Topics

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Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in ITAL 4040 or ITAL 6040

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Non-Traditional Format

This course will be taught in an integrated format. Assignments, discussions, and student oral and written work following guidelines proposed in the proposal for Integrating Languages Across the Curriculum: 1. A significant portion (more than 25%) of the total course readings is in the target language; 2. A significant portion (more than 25%) of the term papers, reports and other written work is in the target language; 3. Opportunities to give oral presentations in the target language; 4. A significant amount of time spent in discussion in the target language, either during class or in break-out sessions.

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Undergraduate Prerequisite

ITAL 2002 or ITAL 2002E or permission of department

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Graduate Prerequisite

Permission of department

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Semester Course Offered

Not offered on a regular basis.

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student Learning Outcomes

• This course aims to train students to analyze closely the movies so that they can interpret the subtle nuances of meaning encoded by the directors. Students will learn how each director uses basic cinematic techniques, especially montage, mise-en-scène, and deep-field photography to articulate the messages s/he wishes to convey to the viewer.
• This course also aims to provide students with the intellectual, cultural, historical, and sociopolitical background needed to understand the Italian movies that will be discussed in this course. Knowledge of each director’s intellectual and cultural background is crucial to interpreting specific literary, artistic, psychological, and sociopolitical allusions in their movies.
• All written assignments and classroom discussions aim to have students clearly articulate their position on a thesis or an issue and support it with cogent arguments.
• At the end of the course, the successful student will have developed an awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of Italian culture and of communities beyond their own. Successful students will also be able to navigate interpersonal communication with an awareness of cultural differences and identify how Italian culture and Italian society shape the mindset of Italians.

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Topical Outline

• Topics will vary depending on who teaches this course, and which movies they plan to discuss. Topics may include:
• Neorealism
• Italy After 1990
• Italian Women Directors
• Screening Male Crises Italian Style

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