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Academic Year 2001/2002

Italian and Italian/American Cinema: Images, Immigration, and Cross-Cultural Comparisons
FIST 244 SP
Crosslistings:
ITAL 244

Through a sustained comparison of paired films by Italian and (more often than not) Italian/American directors, we will examine the representation of some of the following themes in a cross-cultural context: immigration, the generation gap, love, marriage, gender, family dynamics, faith, organized crime, and others.

MAJOR READINGS

Required texts: Peter Bondanella, ITALIAN CINEMA: FROM NEOREALISM TO THE PRESENT Louis Giannetti, UNDERSTANDING MOVIES Millicent Marcus, ITALIAN FILM IN THE LIGHT OF NEOREALISM Recommended texts will be available on reserve in Olin. Required viewing:THE GODFATHER (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972); GOOD MORNING, BABYLON (Paolo and Vittoria Taviani, 1987); CARO DIARIO (Nanni Moretti, 1994); KAOS (Paolo e Vittorio Taviani, 1984); AMARCORD (Federico Fellini, 1974); ITALIANAMERICAN (Martin Scorsese, 1974-5); BEFORE THE REVOLUTION (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1964); MEAN STREETS (Martin Scorsese, 1972); ECLIPSE (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1962); CHINA GIRL (Abel Ferrara, 1987); TRUE LOVE (Nancy Savoca, 1989); DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE (Pietro Germi, 1960); MEDITTER ANEO (Gabriele Salvatorez, 1992); RESERVOIR DOGS (Quentin Tarantino, 1992); SOTTO SOTTO (Lina Wertmuller, 1984); HOUSEHOLD SAINTS (Nancy Savoca, 1993); ACCATTONE (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1961); THE BAD LIEUTENANT (Abel Ferrara, 1992); ROCCO AND HIS BROTHERS (Luchino Visconti, 1960); RAGING BULL (Martin Scorsese, 1980); GOODFELLAS (Martin Scorsese, 1990); THE FRESHMAN (Andrew Bergman, 1990); JOHNNY STECCHINO (Robert Benigni, 1991).

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

1. Two four-six page papers and one final paper (10-15 pages). Topics will be assigned for the first two. The student's final paper will consist of an independent research project, the subject of which will consist of at least one film not discussed in class. There will be no final exam. 2. As a class assignment, students will also be required to do a group presentation on one of the films seen during screenings. 3. Students are required to keep a film journal, in which you can write down impressions, ideas and analyses of each film.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This is a viewing intensive course and attendance is MANDATORY at all screenings and class sessions. This class is taught in English. Italian Studies Majors should enroll in a group Tutorial, which will meet once weekly, in Italian, for .5 credit. Italian Studies Majors will keep the journal in Italian and write both short papers in Italian.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA RLAN    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2002

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