Home Movies: Italian Families on Film
ITAL 242
Fall 2015
| Section:
01
|
What is "the family" in Italy's contemporary social and cultural context? How has it changed over time? How has it responded to the transformations of Italian society since the time of the postwar economic miracle until today? Have its contours changed to adapt to new values? Has it fossilized existing values? Are families limited to flesh-and-blood kinship, or are they constructed along lines of shared values and loyalty? This course seeks some answers to these questions through a sustained exploration of a variety of types of families as they are presented in Italian cinema from roughly 1960 until today. We will take stock of the "traditional" family and the traditional social values connected to it, seeking to understand how filmmakers, through their focus on the family, enter into the debate concerning tradition and change within the social context. In addition to conventional families, we will also examine the elective family that takes shape as the Mafia family. Finally, we will also explore some examples of contemporary families that challenge the traditional paradigm, for example, single-parent and same-sex families. After discussion of critical readings in sociology and anthropology that will help frame our examination throughout the semester, we will concentrate on film texts. This course is conducted through the medium of Italian. |
|
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: ITAL221 OR ITAL222 |
|
Fulfills a Requirement for: (ITST)(RMST) |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Rocco e i suoi fratelli (Rocco and His Brothers by Luchino Visconti 1960, 170¿¿)
Divorzio all¿italiana (Divorce, Italian Style by Pietro Germi 1961, 105¿¿)
Teorema (by Pier Paolo Pasolini 1968, 98¿¿)
Ecce bombo (by Nanni Moretti 1978, 103¿¿)
La famiglia (The Family by Ettore Scola 1987, 126¿¿)
Il ladro di bambini (The Stolen Children by Gianni Amelio 1992, 114¿¿)
Angela (by Roberta Torre 2002, 95¿¿)
Gomorra (Gomorrah by Matteo Garrone 2008, 137¿¿)
Le fate ignoranti (by Ferzan Ozpetek, 2001, 106¿¿)
Lo spazio bianco (The White Space by Francesca Comencini 2009, 98¿¿)
La nostra vita (Our Life by Daniele Luchetti 2010, 95¿¿)
|
Examinations and Assignments:
Examination and Assignments
2 short papers; 1 longer, final paper; presentation; quality participation; preparation of discussion questions
Each week, we will screen one primary film, which will anchor our discussions. We will also have occasion to consider secondary films that could be considered "companions" of the primary texts. Beginning with the third week of the semester, students will to make 10-15-minute presentations of supplementary films that will add further grounding to our understanding of the themes and issues raised by the films drawing our primary focus. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
THIS COURSE IS INTENDED PRIMARILY FOR THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS: those who have a) completed the 221-222 sequence; b) who have studied in Italy (for one or two semesters); c) whose experience with Italian is very recent (i.e., took a course numbered above 221 in Fall 2012 or studied in Italy during that time). This course may be suitable for students who have not completed a course at the 221-222 level but whose placement exam suggested they should take courses numbered above 221. In the event that a student with advanced reading, writing, and speaking abilities in Italian has not yet completed a course at the 221-222 level, s/he will be asked to conduct a brief oral interview with the professor during registration or during drop/add. In the event that the student does not meet the prerequisites AND the professor has any doubts as to placement, the student will be asked to engage in a brief oral interview to help determine placement. |
| Instructor(s): Bellocchio,Letizia Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; ..T.... 07:00PM-09:00PM; Location: FISK314; FISK305; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 18 | | SR major: 7 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 7 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 1 | SO: 3 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
|
|