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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "AH 293"
COURSE NAME: "Modern Rome and Its Monuments"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2025
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Laura Foster
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
W9:15 AM 12:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
On-site
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Rome City Series - This on-site course focuses on the vast transformations in the architecture and urban development of Rome 1870-1945, when the status of the city changed from papal capital to capital of Italy as a nation-state. The course offers a view of the city that includes both grand public buildings – like the huge Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II at Piazza Venezia, and the Fascist-era buildings of the EUR district – and investigation of particular urban characteristics. It will consider aspects like Rome’s experiments in social housing, the development of elite residential districts, the revelation of ancient monuments along wide new avenues of the Fascist era, as well as contemporary architectural additions to the city’s monuments.
Satisfies "the Modern and Contemporary World" core course requirement for Art History majors
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
After an introduction to the methods of reading architecture and urban form, we will walk through specific neighborhoods to observe the new attitude toward Rome in the attempt to distance the association of the city with the papacy. Wide boulevards, elegant city villas, and new spaces of commerce and leisure characterize Rome under the Liberal State. The city was rapidly transformed after 1925 according to a new political and architectural program overseen largely by Benito Mussolini himself. We will analyze the stark contrast between Rome as the capital of the Liberal State and that under Fascism, which introduced modernism in architectural design to the city. While reworking the urban fabric, Mussolini also made use of ancient monuments as part of a theatrical display of imperial power. The last lectures explore the possibilities for architecture in the post-World War II era, a time of critical response to the changes that had occurred just decades before.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
•Broad familiarity with classicism in architectural design and the development of modern architecture, and the ability to employ stylistic and technical terminology in describing individual works.
•An understanding of patterns of modern urban development and the special challenges presented by a city with history spanning three millennia.
•An ability to identify Rome’s layers of development, distinguishing between different historical periods.
•Knowledge of the connection of Italy’s political history to the appearance of Rome through readings and lectures.
•The competence to engage in a sophisticated discussion of architecture on the formal level of design and the contextual level of historical analysis.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Modern Rome: From Napoleon to the Twenty-First Century | Italo Insolera | Cambridge Scholars Publishing | 9781527526785 | | |
| Modernism in Italian Architecture, 1890-1940 | Richard Etlin | MIT Press | 9780262050388 | | |
| The Architecture of Modern Italy | Terry Kirk | Princeton Architectural Press | 9781568984384 | NA1114 .K574 2005 2 vols. | |
| Roads and Ruins: The Symbolic Landscape of Fascist Rome | Paul Baxa | Universith of Toronto Press | 9781442697379 | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| On-site exercises in observation and understanding architectural design (4) | The exercises will consist of note taking and observation on site to hone knowledge of architectural terminology and urban form. Students will be provided with a series of questions to which they will respond in writing while observing monuments and urban spaces. These notes will then be transformed into an analytical essay of approximately 2 pages. See the course schedule for due dates of the individual exercises. | 40% |
| Midterm Examination | Through short answer questions, image identifications and an essay question, students will demonstrate an understanding of architectural terminology, styles, the period of urban history covered in the first half of the semester and the specific monuments seen during the lectures. | 20% |
| Comparative Essay | The objective of this written assignment of 5-6 pages is to bring together material studied during this course by comparing architectural monuments constructed during the two distinct political periods we have covered. Students will apply skills of direct observation of architectural design and understanding of urban development in order to analyze the strategies of representation used by architects and patrons in the period between 1870 and 1943. The paper will include visual descriptions of the two buildings or urban spaces, an explanation of their function, and analysis of their specific location in Rome. While not technically a research paper, students will be expected to include proper bibliographic source material. | 20% |
| Final Examination | The format for the final exam will be similar to the midterm, with emphasis on material from the second half of the semester. The essay questions will be on topics taken from themes discussed in the entire course. | 20% |
-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:
Please see the statement above regarding attendance in the section on assignments.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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Course schedule and topics are subject to change. The syllabus with reading assignments and due dates for tests and papers will be available on the first day of class and on Moodle for registered students.
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Date
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Topic
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Jan 22
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Rome as idea: The concept of the capital in the 19th century
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Jan 29
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Reading architecture and urban form: The Tiber River and Lungotevere Avenues
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Feb 5
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Roma Alta: Urban expansion on the Esquiline and Quirinal Hills
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Feb 12
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Remaking the urban image of the historic center
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Feb 19
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The meaning of modernity in Rome of the Belle Époque
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Feb 26
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Review and discussion
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Mar 5
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MIDTERM EXAMINATION
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Spring Break March 10 – 14
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Mar 19
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From Garden City to Urban Exile: The development of Quartiere Garbatella
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Mar 26
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Disembowelment and purification: Archeological excavation and urban displacement
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Apr 2
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A Forum for Mussolini: Foro Italico & Palazzo del Littorio
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Apr 9
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Tensions between modernism and classicism: The development of Stile littorio
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Apr 16
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Fascism as permanent exhibition: E42 (the EUR district)
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Apr 23
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Possibilities for architecture in postwar Rome: From the 1960 Olympics to the 2000 Jubilee
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Apr 30
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Review and discussion
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Date, time and location of the final examination TBA
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