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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 319H"
COURSE NAME: "The Image of Rome in Italian Literature and Cinema (This is an honors course and carries 4 semester hours of credit; NB: Minimum 3.5 CUM GPA required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement, IT 302 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Literary and cinematic representations not only mirror, in different ways, the actual geographical, social and cultural landscape of a city, but they also participate in shaping its identity and its self-representation. This course aims at providing students with critical keys to understanding this multilayered relationship in its different expressions. Along with theoretical readings, this course will explore several writers  and directors who have shaped the image of Modern Rome.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course, which will be held in Italian, will explore the image of Rome in the Italian twentieth century literature and cinema, focusing on the ‘golden age’ of 50’s and the 60’s (Rome as the ’ Hollywood sul Tevere’, Rome as the symbol of the Sweet Life, Rome as the paradigm of a ‘cinematic city’, and today’s multicultural Rome). Excerpts from Belli, Flaiano, Moravia, Pasolini, Trevi and Scego ’s literary works and clips from Fellini, Blasettii, Pasolin, Scola, Sorrentino and G. Rosi  will be discussed in themselves and in their mutual relationships.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

A) To learn concepts and theories in the subjects of Italian Literary Studies and Film Studies.

B) To understand literary and cinematic texts in their relationship with a specific socio-geographical context and tradition.

C) To develop an in-depth knowledge of the literary and cinematic traditions that have shaped the image of Modern Rome.

D)To learn an interdisciplinary approach to Italian literature.

E)To improve reading and writing skills in Italian

 

F) To master bibliographical research skills. 
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Two (2) essays on given topics.Two four-pages essays on topics previously discussed with the Instructor.10% each. Total 20%
Attendance and partecipationPlease note that partecipation means what it means: come to class prepared, ask questions, answer to Professor's questions. Avoid to spend your time in class in checking your social net-works. I do not wnat to see smart-phone, I-phone, etc in my classes. If this will happen, I will consider your attendance and partecipation as 0.10%
Midterm ExamAn in-class exam based on materials covered in class. Short questions and a brief in-class response paper.25%
Final Paper10 pages Final Paper on a topic previously discussed and approved by the Professor.10%
Final ExamIn-class CUMULATIVE exam based on short answers and a critical essay.30 %
Book review and oral presentationA 2-pages review of one of the books from the reserved readings. This obviously implied a full reading of the chosen book.5%

-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:
Regular attendance is an essential component of class participation. Students are allowed three (3) absences. Additional absences will lower the final grade (2 points for each absence) 
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

Session

Session Focus

Reading Assignment

Other Assignment

Meeting Place/Exam Dates

Week 1

-Introduction to the course. Key-concepts and a brief history of the cinematic representation of Rome. 

 
Handout from  G.G. Belli. Poems. Excerpts from F. DI Biagi, Il cinema a Roma: pp.7-54 (on riserve).

 

 

Week 2

Rome disappeared. The icon of . La 'commare secca” Discussion on Belli, Clips from E. Scola, Gente di Roma and from F. Tozzi, Trastevere.

P.P.P. Pasolini, Ragazzi di vita—Last chapter, A. Moravia, Introduzione al Belli (in Racconti romani. Roman Tales).

 

 

Week 3

Rome disappearead II. The impact of popular culture on high-culture. Rome in the early Moravia’s Roman Tales.

 P.Cudini, Introduzione to Racconti romani).

 F. Di Biagi, Il cinema a Roma, pp. 94-98.

 A. Moravia, Il provino, Faccia di mascalzone, la controfigura.

Home screening: L. Visconti. Bellissima.

 

week 4

Cinecittà as the “Hollywood on Tiber”. Discussion on Moravia’s short-stories and Visconti’s Bellissima.

A.Moravia, Fanatico.

Chatman "Introduction", Story and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film.

M. Marcus, Filmmaking by the books. Introduction.

Home screening: A. Blasetti, Peccato che sia una canaglia.

 

week 5

Screenplay as Literature.

 P.P. Pasolini, Alì dagli occhi azzurri, Selected poems.

.F. Di Biagi, Il cinema a Roma, pp.55-62.

.

 

week 6

Writing for, on and with cinema. The contribution of Italian writers to cinema

 Essay  1 Due Literature and cinema in Moravia’s Racconti romani

 

week 7

. MIDTERM

E. Flaiano, "Fogli di via Veneto" (La solitudine del satiro), pp. 235-261.

 Home screening: F. Fellini. La dolce vita

 

Week 8



Rome during the Sweet life. The role of Ennio Flaiano in Fellini’s representation of Rome

 E. Flaiano."Fogli di via Veneto ; F. Di Biagi, Il cinema a Roma, pp.187-189.

.

 

Week 9

Pasolini’s Rome.

Pasolini’s Selected Poems.

 Home-screening: P.P.Pasolini’s Accattone

 

week 10

Rome in the 70’s- The literary and cinematic tradition of Trastevere. Clips from F. Tozzi, Trastevere..

. S. Petrignani. E in mezzo il fiume. A piedi nei due centri di Roma. Excerpts.

Home-screening. Fellini’ s Roma.

Topic final paper due.

 

week 11

Social and urban transformations of vernacular Roman culture. The example of Trastevere

S. Petrignani. E in mezzo il fiume. A piedi nei due centri di Roma. Excerpts

Essay 2. (on a topic previously discussed with the Instructor).

 

Week 12

 Today’s Rome(s). Multicultural Rome. The ‘second generation’ Italan writer Igiaba Scego.

Excerpts from I. Scego. La mia casa è dove sono.

Home screening: P. Sorrentino. La grande bellezza. G. Rosi. Sacro Gra.

 

Week 13

The beauty of Rome. Sorrentino Vs.Rosi.

Raffaele La Capria. La bellezza di Roma. Excerpts.

Basetti-Matteucci. Sacro Romano GRA. Introduction.

 

week 14

 Conclusions and review for FInal.