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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS/ITS 241-1"
COURSE NAME: "Italian Cinema"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 3:30 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: This course carries 3 semester hours of credit.
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course surveys films, directors, and film movements and styles in Italy from 1945 to the present. The films are examined as complex aesthetic and signifying systems with wider social and cultural relationships to post-war Italy. The role of Italian cinema as participating in the reconstitution and maintenance of post-War Italian culture and as a tool of historiographic inquiry is also investigated. Realism, modernism and post-modernism are discussed in relation to Italian cinema in particular and Italian society in general. Films are shown in the original Italian version with English subtitles.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Realist, modernist and post-modernist aesthetics will be discussed in relation to Italian cinema, in particular, and Italian society, more in general. Directors to be treated include (but are not limited to) De Sica, Rossellini, Fellini, Pasolini, Monicelli, Petri, Cavani, Bertolucci, Bellocchio, Nicchiarelli, and Sorrentino. Films are shown in the original Italian version with English subtitles.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

-Students will learn how to analyze film texts using specific historical, cultural, and theoretical approaches.
- Students will learn how to write analytical essays that employ specific critical frameworks.
- Students will learn and be able to discuss key social, political, and economic events, and movements in contemporary Italian history.

Numerical scale for grades:

A Excellent 94-100

A- 90-93

B+ 87-89

B Good 84-86

B- 80-83

C+ 77-79

 C Satisfactory 74-76

C- 70-73 D+ 67-69

D Poor but Passing

64-68

D- 60-63

F Failing Below 60 INC Incomplete P Passing (C or higher) NP Not Passing (C- or lower) W Withdrawal 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
History of Italian Cinema Peter Bondanella, Federico Pacchioniloomsbury USA Academic; 2° edizione 9781501307638     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Italian FIlm in the Light of NeorealismMillicent Marcus Princeton UP 9780691102085  
Stupendous, Miserable CIty: Pasolini's RomeJohn D. Rhodes University of Minnesota Press978-0-8166-4930-3   

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
FINAL EXAMIn-Class exam with questions on: readings, screening, and class discussions 30%
MIDTERM EXAMIn-Class Exam. Questions on readings, screenings, and a 3-4 pages essay on a given topic25%
CLASS PARTICIPATION Students are expected to actively and critically participate to class discussions. 15%
GROUP ORAL PRESENTATIONSGroup oral presentation on a topic previously discussed with the professor. 10 minutes for each student15%
   
Home Screenings and Critical Reviews (3)Students will be required to watch at home 3 movies and write a critical review following this guidelines: https://edusson.com/blog/how-to-write-movie-review At least 2 pages (single-space) for each. 15%
NUMERICAL SCALE FOR GRADESNumerical scale for grades: A Excellent 94-100 A- 90-93 B+ 87-89 B Good 84-86 B- 80-83 C+ 77-79 C Satisfactory 74-76 C- 70-73 D+ 67-69 D Poor but Passing 64-68 D- 60-63 F Failing Below 60 INC Incomplete P Passing (C or higher) NP Not Passing (C- or lower) W Withdrawal 

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Students are allowed 3 absences. Any additional absence will result in 2 pts (for each absence) taken away from your FINAL GRADE.

 
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INSTRUCTOR CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS

 

WEEK 1 (Sept. 6, 8)

Introduction: Cinema, History, National Culture.

Screening:  Roma città aperta (Rome Open City, Rossellini, 1945)

READINGS:

Marcus. M. Italian Film in the Light of Neorealism, UP Princeton, 1986, “Introduction” pp. 3-29; “Rossellini's Open City: The Founding”, pp. 33-53

P. Bondanella, A History of Italian Cinema. Chapter: "Neorealism: a Revolutionary and Problematic New Film Aesthetic"

 

WEEK 2 (Sept. 13, 15, 16)

Class discussion: Neo-Realism I: A Historical Approach. Lecture and class discussion

Screening: Ladri di Biciclette (Bicycle Thief, De Sica, 1948).

READINGS:

Millicent Marcus, Italian film .... Chapter: "De Sica's Bicycle Thief: Casting shadows on the visionary city";

P. Bondanella, A History...., Chapter: "Neorealism's Many Faces: Widening the Range of the Camera's Eye"

 

 Make-up day: Class Discussion: Neorealism's Many Faces

 

WEEK 3 (Sept. 20, 22)

Screening: I soliti ignoti (Big Deal on Madonna Street, 1958, Mario Monicelli)

READINGS:

 P. Bondanella, A History of Italian Cinema... Chapter: "Commedia all'italiana: Social Criticism for Laughter's Sake".

Class Discussion: From Neorealism to Commedia all'italiana

 

WEEK 4 (Sept. 27, 29)

Screening: Le notti di Cabiria (F. Fellini, 1957)

READINGS:

P. Bondanella, A History... Chapter: "The Italian Art Film: Auteurism in Visconti, Antonioni, Fellini, and De Sica".

Class Discussion: Italian Cinema and the Economic Miracle.

 

Home screening and Review 1 (due: Oct. 4): La dolce vita (F. Fellini, 1960).

 

WEEK 5 (Oct. 4, 6)

Class Discussion: La dolce vita.

Screening: Mamma Roma (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1962).

READINGS:

 D. J. Rhodes, Stupendous, Miserable City. Pasolini's Rome, Minnesota University Press, 2007.  Chapter 5

 

WEEK 6 (Oct. 11, 13)

Class Discussion: Pasolini's Cinema

Screening: L'eclisse (The Eclips, Michelangelo Antonioni, 1962)

 

Home screening and Critical Review 2 (due Oct. 18): La ricotta (P. P. Pasolini, 1963)

 

WEEK 7 (Oct. 18, 20, 21)

 

Class Discussion. Review for Midterm

 

 Midterm Exam: Oct. 20

 

Make up Day: Screening: Il conformista (The Conformist, B. Bertolucci, 1970)

READINGS:

 M. Marcus, Italian film... Chapter on Il conformista .

P. Bondanella, A History... Chapter: "The Golden Age of Italian Cinema: Neorealism's Legacy to a New Generation and the Political Film" .

 

WEEK 8 (Oct. 25, 27)

Class Discussion: Italian Cinema in the Seventies

Screening: Indagine di un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto (Investigation on a Citizen Above Suspicion, E. Petri, 1970)

Class Discussion: Politics, Society, and Cinema in the Seventies. part 2

READINGS:

M. Marcus, Italian Film... Chapter on Investigation…

P. Bondanella, A History... "Mistery, Gore. and Mayhem: The Italian Giallo"

 

WEEK 9 (Nov. 3)

Screening: C'eravamo tanto amati (We Love Each Other So Much, E. Scola, 1976)

READINGS:

M. Marcus, Italian film .... Chapter on We All Love Each Other So Much.

 

WEEK 10 (Nov. 8, 10)

Class Discussion: C'eravamo tanto amati

Screening: Caro Diario (Dear Diary, Nanni Moretti, 1994)

READINGS:

M. Marcus, After Fellini, John Hopkins University, 2002, pp. 285-299. Chapter: “Caro Diario and the Cinematic Body of Nanni Moretti".

 

WEEK 11 (Nov. 15, 17)

Class Discussion: Towards a Postmodern Cinema.

Screening: Buongiorno notte (M. Bellocchio, 2004)

READINGS:

Carlo Testa, "Film, Literature, and Terrorism: Mapping Italy's Political Landscape by Cinematic Means", Italica, Vol 84, n. 4, Winter 2007, pp. 781-798.

 

WEEK 12 (Nov. 22)

Class Discussion: The Return of Politics in Italian Cinema.

 

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

WEEK 13 (Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 2)

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Screening: Cosmonauta (S. Nicchiarelli, 2009)

 READINGS:

Nicoletta Marini-Maio, Nicchiarelli’s Cosmonauta: The Space Race, or When Communist Girls Dreamed of the Moon.

P. Bondanella, A history...  Chapter: “Weaving Present and Past: The Contemporary Italian Drama"

Class Discussion and ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Home Screening and Critical Review 3 (due Dec. 6): Non essere cattivo (Don’t Be Bad, C. Caligari, 2015)

 

WEEK 14 (Dec. 6)

Class Discussion: Contemporary Italian Cinema

Review for Final

 

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DIGITAL RESOURCES FOR THE COURSE ARE AVAILABLE IN:

 

https://jculibrary.on.worldcat.org/courseReserves/course/id/10050388

 

BOOKS and DVD are available in the Library

 

Additional Readings will be provided week by week