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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 317 H"
COURSE NAME: "Roots of Italian Identities - HONORS (This course carries 4 semester hours of credits. A minimum CUM GPA of 3.5 is required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2023
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 6:00-7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: IT 302 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course aims to give an insight into the linguistic, cultural and sociological complexity of the ‘notion of Italy.’ The topics studied, based primarily on literary texts, include some of the major themes of Italian culture as well as examples of the various ‘identities’ that Italy offers today: the question of political and cultural unity and the long-lasting question of a common national language; the role played by Italian intellectuals in the construction of Italy as a nation; the Mafia and the institution of family-based structures; the Italian literary canon and the contemporary ideas of culture and literature. The course is in Italian.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will explore some of the major themes of Italian literary and cultural tradition such as the question of language, the engagment of literature into political discourses, the role of  intellectuals in shaping the 'Notion of Italy'. Some of the key Italian literary authors such as Dante, Petrarca, Machiavelli, Leopardi, and Pasolini will be studied to understand the historical paradigms that supported the construction of the Italian literary culture. Latest literary works and multidisciplinary materials addressing topics such as gender, post-colonial Italy, and intermediality will counterbalance the hegemonic discourse on Italy providing students with a critical awareness of the several cultural, social, and historical factors involved in the dominant artistic representations of Italy and Italianity.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this course, students will possess the ability to:

- Analyze language and structures of literary texts

- Identify main ideas in relationship to the historical and cultural context in which they arose

- Identify broad ideological frames of current received ideas on certain aspects of Italian culture

- Discuss the relevance of such ideas in connection with other information about topics in question

- Critically discuss Italian cultural heritage in today's world.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
2 Short-essay Short essay (4 pages, double-space) on a topic previously approved by the Instructor. Students are required to reflect on the materials presented in class and use at least 3 additional sources, NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS 20%
Midterm examIn-class exam composed of short questions and a critical essay25%
Class Participation Students are expected to come to class with all the assigned reading done, to engage themselves in class discussions, to pay attention to the Instructors' lectures, take notes, and ask questions. 10%
Oral Presentation15 minutes presentation on a topic previously discussed with the Instructor.15%
Final ExamA CUMULATIVE exam composed by short questions and a critical essay.30%
NUMERICAL SCALE FOR GRADESA 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 course.
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. Additional absence will result in -2pts in the FINAL GRADE for each class missed

 
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 MIGHT NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE SCHEDULE

 

WEEK 1

 Introduction to the course. Syllabus, Course Materials, Learning Oucomes. The Notion of Italy. Sebastiano Vassalli, L’Italiano .

Readings: Christian Raimo, Contro l'identità italiana, chap 1: "Italiano per forza".

 The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture, pp. 17-33.

   

WEEK 2

UNIT I: The Question of Language. I
Dante's De Vulgari Eloquentia, Libro I. 

Readings: The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture, pp. 63-70.

 Italian Renaissance and the literary definition of Italian Language. Pietro Bembo’s Canon and the Culture of Imitatio.

Readings: Excerpts from P. Bembo, Prose della Volgar Lingua; Francesco Petrarca's Rerum vulgarium fragmenta, and ‘Petrarchisti’’s poems.

 

WEEK 3

The Question of Language during the Risorgimento.

 Alessandro Manzoni and Italian Risorgimento. Giuseppe Verdi and the Role of Italian Opera in Shaping National Identity during Risorgimento.

 Readings: Excerpts from Manzoni and Verdi’s librettos; Christian Raimo, Contro l'identità italiana, Chap. 3: "La rivincita del neonazionalismo".

 

WEEK 4

 ESSAY I DUE

 UNIT 2: Literature as Political Discourse. Dante Alighieri, Divina Commedia: i “canti politici”.

Critical Readings: Inferno, Canto VI, vv. 58-75; Purgatorio, Canto VI, vvi. 223-228.

 

WEEK 5 

Unit 2- Continue. F. Petrarca, Italia mia; N. Machiavelli, Il Principe, chapter XXVI.

 Readings: The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture, pp. 35-53.

 

WEEK 6 

Unit 2- Continue. Giacomo Leopardi, All'Italia; Pier Paolo Pasolini, Alla mia nazione.

 Readings: The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture, pp. 53-61.

 

WEEK 7

Review for Midterm

MIDTERM EXAM

: Screening La grande guerra (M. Monicelli, 1959)

Readings: Alberto Crespi, Storia d'Italia in 15 film, pp. 37-48; The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture, pp.215-242

 

 WEEK 8

Unit 3: Italian Intellectuals. Pier Paolo Pasolini, Scritti corsari, Chapters: “Sviluppo e progresso”, “Acculturazione e acculturazione”. 

Readings: The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture, pp. 81-91; Home screening. Pier Paolo Pasolini, Comizi d’amore.

 

WEEK 9

Unit 3- Continue.  Discussion on P. P. Pasolini

Readings: Pier Paolo Pasolini, Scritti corsari, chapter “Il romanzo delle stragi”; Roberto Saviano, Gomorra, pp. 231-240. The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture,pp. 91-96.

 

WEEK 10

Unit 3. Continue. 

In-Class Screening: Alina Marazzi, Vogliamo anche le rose (2007). 

 Readings: Christian Raimo, Contro l'identità italiana, chapt. 4: "Il virilismo dell'identità italiana"; Igiaba Scego, Dismatria (in Pecore nere)

 

WEEK 11

Unit 4: Questioning the Italian Literary Tradition from Gender and Postcolonial Perspectives.

Readings: Alberto Crespi, Storia d'Italia in 15 film, pp. 235-252; Christian Raimo, Contro l’identità italiana, chapter 5: "Un'identità italiana alternativa".

 

WEEK 12

ESSAY 2 due

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 

WEEK 13

 In-class screening: Viva l'Italia (Massimo Bruno, 2012)

Readings: Christian Raimo, Contro l'identità italiana, chap 6: "Contro l'identità"

 

WEEK 14 

Conclusions and Review for Final Exam