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FIST238
Italian and Italian/American Cinema: Images, Immigration, and Cross-cultural Comparisons
FIST238 SP
Crosslistings: ITAL235
Next Offered in 9899 SP
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
Scorese, 1972); ECLIPSE (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1962);
CHINA GIRL (Abel Ferrara, 1987); TRUE LOVE (Nancy Savoca,
1989); DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE (Pietro Germi, 1960);
MEDITTERANEO (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: Discussion Lecture
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level: UG Credit: 1.00
Gen Ed Area & Dept: HA RLIT
Prerequisites:
None
Last Updated on MAR-03-1998
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