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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 317"
COURSE NAME: "Roots of Italian Identities"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 1:30 PM 2:45 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 topics studied, based primarily on literary texts but also taking into consideration other areas such as contemporary history, social studies, and art history, include some of the major themes of Italian culture as well as examples of the various ‘identities’ that Italy offers today: the role played by Italian intellectuals in the construction of Italy as a Nation, the Mafia and the long-lasting institution of family-based structures, the ideal of beauty, modern design, contemporary literary production. Some of the key authors of Italian literature such as Dante, Petrarca, Machiavelli, Calvino and Pasolini will guide us to the complex process of Italian culture configuration through different ages. Italian political cinema  will be also part of our study of the multilayered identity of Italian culture tradition.
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

- discuss cultural heritage and modern aspects of topics studied

- establish comparisons between different media (reading passages, art works, films)

TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Dimenticare PasoliniP. AntonelloMImesis9788857516943  
Letteratura e controvalori. Critica e scritture nell'età del web A. CasadeiDonzelli9788868430863   
La mia casa è dove sonoI. ScegoRIzzoli9788858651292.   
Scritti corsariP.P. PasoliniGarzanti8811697050   
The Cambridge Companion to Italian CultureBaranski-West University of Cambridge Press9780521559829   
Dimentica il mio nomeZerocalcareBao978-88-6543-254-9  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
2 questionnaires 2 questionnaires composed of 3-4 questions each. Students are expected to expand all the materials we studied in class with further research. At least 2 pages (1,5 space) for EACH answer. Additional instructions will be given in class.20%
midterm examIn-class exam composed of short questions and a critical essay25%
Attendance and participationStudents are expected to engage themselves in class discussions, to pay attention to the Instructors' lectures, take notes, ask questions and come prepared to each class. Cell phones and any other technical devised should be turned OFF (NOT kept on silent or vibrate mode).Text messaging/instant messaging/internet surfing is alsoPROHIBITED! If caught using a cell phone or misusing your laptop during class, you will receive awarning. Further violations of this policy will result in an F on this portion of your grade. Attendance does not mean just "to be there" but to be actively part of the class.. More than 2 classes missed with be penalized with 2 pts for each absence. during an exam, you will be assumed to be cheating and will receive the grade of ‘F’ for the course. Please be respectful towards your instructor and your classmates.10%
oral presentation20-25 oral presentation on a topic previously discussed with the Instructor.15%
Final ExamA CUMULATIVE exam composed by short questions and a critical essay.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 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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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 SCHEDULE.

Make sure to check your MyJCU on regular basis.



week 1--

Introduction to the course. The notion of Italy-


The Question of Language- Brief history of Italian language and its literary use. 

Dante’s De Vulgari Eloquentia

Modern Italian Culture, pp. 17-33;63-79.


Dante, De Vulgari Eloquentia

www.classicitaliani.it/dante/prosa/vulgari_lat.htm

libro 1.



Week 2--

Dante, De Vulgari Eloquentia. Class Discussion.

Italian Renaissance and the question of language. Pietro Bembo's Prose della Volgar Lingua. Literary Canon and the culture of imitatio.

P. Bembo, Prose della Volgar Lingua, Excertps.

Petrarca and petrarchisti: excerpts-



 

Week 3--

The 'questione della lingua' during Italian Risorgimento.

Alessandro Manzoni's role as the 'father' of modern Italian (literary) language.

The role of dialects in Italian literary tradition: Carlo Porta and Giuseppe Gioachino Belli.


A. Manzoni, excerpts.

C. Porta's selected poems.

G.G. Belli, selected sonnets.



week 4-- 

Italy as a geographical and political notion- The 'literary invention' of the concept of 'Patria'.

Dante, Divina Commedia- Inferno, Canto VI vv. 58-75; Purgatorio, Canto VI, vv. 223-228; Paradiso, Canto VI, vv. 97-11.

F. Petrarca, All'Italia, N. Machiavelli, Il Principe (selected passages), Leopardi, Canzone all'Italia.





 

WEEK 5-- 

The topos of Italy's Past-
Giacomo Leopardi, Canzone all'Italia.

Critical use of the topos in the XXth century- Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Alla mia nazione". 



Pasolini's critical investigation ofmodern Italy- Screening Comizi d'amore (Love meetings, 1963)

P- Paolo Pasolini, Scritti corsari, "Nuove prospettive storiche: la Chiesa è inutile al potere", "Sviluppo e progresso".



P.P.Pasolini, Scritti corsari, "Acculturazione e acculturazione".


Questionnaire 1 due

WEEK 6--

The role of Italian intellectuals in shaping the 'notion of Italy?



Saviano's 're-appropriation of Pasolini's civic engagement.

Modern Italian Culture, pp. 139-141.

A. Piepaolo. Dimenticare Pasolini. Intellettuali e impegno nell'Italia contemporanea, pp. 97-123. 

P.P.Pasolini, Scritti corsari, "Il romanzo delle stragi".

R. Saviano, Gomorra, pp. 231-240.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS TOPIC DUE.

Week 7

Midterm week. Review and exam

Week 8

Gramsci's legacy. Redifining the Italian Intellectuals. The role of Italian cinema.



Italian intellectuals and mass-media-Clips from Italian movies.

Modern Italian Culture



P. Antonello. Dimenticare Pasolini. Intellettuali e impegno nell'Italia contemporanea, pp.39-57.

home screenings N. Moretti, Il caimano. --
P. Sorrentino, Il divo.
Brief research on politicians Silvio Berlusconi and Giulio Andreotti.

 

Week 9

Women and/in Italian Society.

Screening: A. Mazzari, Vogliamo anche le rose and class discussion.

Oral presentations.

P. Antonello, Dimenticare Pasolini, pp. .67-98

Modern Italian Culture,  

Week 10

Italian canon and the global age. National and transnational approach to Italian canon.  



-Oral presentations.

A. Casadei, Letteratura e controvalori. Critica e scritture nell'età del web.

 Modern Italian Culture.

 

Week 11

Postcolonial Italian Literature:
Igiaba Scego. La mia casa è dove sono- Selected Chapters. 

Oral Presentations



P. Antonello, Dimenticare Pasolini, pp.89-96.


A. Casadei, Letteratura e controvalori. Critica e scritture nell'età del web. Selected chapters.

Questionnaire 2 DUE

Week 12

Postcolonial Italy-Continue Igiaba Scego, La mia casa è dove sono, Selcted Chapters. 

Oral presentations

.

I. Scego, La mia casa è dove sono.

Week 13

Expanding the Italian literary canon: Zerocalcare, Dimentica il mio nome. 

 P Antonello, Dimenticare Pasolini, pp. 125-144.


A. Casadei, Letteratura e controvalori. Critica e scritture nell'età del web. Selected chapters.

 

Week 14

Conclusions and review

P. Antonello, Dimenticare Pasolini, pp. 145-163.