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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SOSC/ITS 226-1"
COURSE NAME: "Rome: Modern City (On-site)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Ferruccio Trabalzi
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TH9:15 AM 12:00 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This on-site course, which will be conducted in English, aims to introduce students to a sociological analysis of contemporary Rome. It focuses on the changes which are occurring in the city’s populations, its neighborhoods and patterns of daily life and commerce, and challenges conventional images of what it is to be a Roman today. On-site classes will be held in a variety of neighborhoods in the city in order to analyze the area’s role as a social entity and its relationship with the wider urban context. We will examine the issues and problems facing Rome today, such as housing, degradation and renewal, environmental questions, transportation, multiculturalism, wealth and poverty, social conflict and political identities. These issues will be contextualized within theories of urban sociology and also within an explanation of Rome’s urban development over the centuries and, in particular, since it became the national capital in 1870. Through readings, film clips, interviews and guest speakers, students will also analyze the way the city is narrated by some of its residents.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
By focusing on the non-tourist Rome (i.e. the city without monuments), the course highlights changes that are occurring in the city’s life and culture.  In doing so the course challenges conventional, stereotypical, images of Rome while raising students’ cultural awareness and inter-cultural competency.  The main focus of the course will be on the historical relations between the seemingly eternal center and its ever-changing suburbs, the transformed identity of the population, the ways in which the city is adapting to globalization and the fate of its cultural heritage. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course students should be able to:

1)        Demonstrate knowledge of the city’s urban development from the late 1800s to today.

2)        Demonstrate familiarity with the economic, political, social, religious, cultural and institutional diversity that characterizes the city of Rome today.

3)        Describe individual neighborhoods and identify their key roles and relations with the broader urban context.

4)        Identify the main sociological and spatial features of each neighborhood.

5)        Demonstrate familiarity with major theories of urban sociology and apply them to the case-study neighborhoods in order to assess their validity and relevance for understanding the particular situation of Rome.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
PARTICIPATIONParticipation. Showing up for class or on time for the field visits grants the student a C in the final participation grade. To earn full participation the student has to actively participate. This means asking questions relevant to the issue at hand, answering when prompted by the professor, bringing into the discussion relevant points, experiences and whatever extra information generate further reflection on the topic discussed at the moment. Navigating under the radar (i.e. trying to stay invisible to the professor and to the rest of the class) is not a behavior that will help student gain full participation. 10%
MIDTERM EXAMMid-term exam (5 to 10 questions including short and longer answers for a total of 100 points) is based on readings, lectures and on-site visits and will cover all topics up to that point. 30%
FINAL EXAMFinal exam (5 to 10 questions including short and longer answers for a total of 100 points) is based on the work done from midterm to the last class.30%
TERM PAPERThe term paper asks the student to write about the cultural shock (if any) of living in Rome. The paper should not exceed 2,000 words. See the Term Paper Rubric for specifics on how to format and write the term paper. 30%

-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 co
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:

SEE JCU ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR THIS CLASS ON THE UNIVERSITY CATALOGUE.  

NOTE: 

Missing a bus, not knowing how to get to the appointment site, bus delay, etc. are not reasons that excuse the student from coming to class.  Public transportation in Rome is rather unpredictable therefore students need to give themselves ample time to arrive on time at the on-site appointment.

Flight delay and other inconveniences experienced by students when traveling for personal reasons that prevent them from attending classes are not considered.

Traveling with parent\friends\significant others during class time is considered an unexcused 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

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

 PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

WHEN SCHEDULED ON CAMPUS (in-class) THE CLASS STARTS AT 8:30 AND ENDS AT 11:15.

WHEN ON-SITE, THE CLASS STARTS AT 9:15 (or as otherwise specified) AND ENDS AT 12:00.

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1\21               

ON-SITE: ROME THE BEAUTIFUL: WHERE CENTER AND MARGIN COINCIDE.

Appointment: 9:15 at Campo di Fiori under the statue of  Giordano Bruno

Readings:

Clough Marinaro, I. and B. Thomassen, 2014:” Into the City: The Changing Faces of Rome,” in Clough Marinaro, I. and B. Thomassen, eds. Global Rome (Indianapolis: Indiana University Press)

Thomassen, B., and P. Vereni, 2014: “Diversely Global Rome.” In Clough Marinaro, I. and B. Thomassen, eds. Global Rome (Indianapolis: Indiana University Press)

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1\28               

IN-CLASS: COURSE PRESENTATION AND INTRODUCTION TO THE CITY OF ROME 

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2\4.  

IN-CLASS: TAKING THE STEREOTYPE OF ROME AS  “ETERNAL CITY APART”: THE MODERN INVENTION OF  ANCIENT ROME

  Readings: 

David Watkin, “Archaeologists under the kings of United Italy”  pp. 196-200 and “From Mussolini To Hitler to Holes on the Ground,” pp. 201-222, In The Roman Forum (London: Profile  Books, 2011).

Trabalzi, F.: “Primavalle: Urban Reservation in Rome

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2\11.

ON-SITE: LEARNING FROM THE FORUM: THE MODERN LANDSCAPE OF ANCIENT ROME

Appointment: 9:15 in Piazza del Campidoglio under the equestrian statue of Emperor Marco AURELIO

Handouts for this walk will be distributed at the beginning of  class.

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2\18.

ON-SITE: FORUM BOARIUM AND THE EX-JEWISH GHETTO  OR THE PARADOXES OF PROTECTING CULTURAL HERITAGE

Appointment: 9:15 at Tiber Island under the statue of Saint  Bartholomew.

Handouts for this walk will be distributed at the beginning of   class                       

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2\25.

ON-SITE: PARK OF THE AQUEDUCTS: THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF A  MODERN-ANCIENT                                                                                                                 

Appointment: 9:15 at Metro A station Giulio Agricola. Expected return time to campus around 12:15.

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 3\3.

IN-CLASS: 9:00-11:00.  MIDTERM  AND TURN IN TERM PAPER.

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Week 8. 3\10.                      

IN-CLASS: DISCUSSION MIDTERM AND TERM PAPER. AFTER BREAK WALK TO THE JANICULUM HILL FROM CAMPUS.

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 3\17.                         

IN-CLASS: SOCIAL MARGINALIZATION IN ROME REVISITED.

 Readinngs:

bell hooks: “Choosing the Margin as a site of Radical  Openness,” in Yearning: Race, Gender and Cultural Politics”, Boston: South End Press,1990

 bell hooks: “Marginality as Site of Resistance”

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3\24 

IN-CLASS: THE INDEPENDENT CITIES OF CENTRI SOCIALI.

                                                                           

Reading:

Mudu. P. 2014:”Where is Culture in Rome? In Marinaro and Thomassen, eds. Global Rome (Indianapolis: Indiana University Press), pp. 246-264.

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4\7.

ON-SITE: MARGINALITY REVISITED: Testaccio NEIGHBORHOOD; THE OPEN AIR MUSEUM AND the Ex-slaughterhoUSE

Meeting Point: Bus 23 stop Marmorata-Galvani near PIRAMIDE at 9:15.

 Handouts for this walk is on the class website

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4\14.

ON-SITE: RELIGION AND MULTICULTURALISM IN  ROME: ESQUILINO NEIGHBORHOOD

Apointment 9:15 Piazza Vittorio

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4\21. OPEN

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4\28.                                      

IN-CLASS: FINAL RECAP

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FINAL EXAM TBA