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PL20779: Italian culture in the 20th Century

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2013/4
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 33%, ES 67%
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To build on the textual and cultural awareness acquired in Year 1 and on the knowledge of social and political issues and transformations studied in the Year 2 Semester 1 unit Italy since 1945; to provide an overview of Italian cultural production in the 20th Century; to develop students’ skills in analysing and interpreting dramatic, literary and cinematic texts.

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this unit, students should:
1) have in-depth knowledge of the major cultural trends in 20th Century Italy;
2) be familiar with theories relating to these issues;
3) be familiar with the major intellectual debates of the period;
4) be able to produce critical analyses of the set texts and films.

Skills:
Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument, teamwork and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are taught and assessed in this unit. Skills in effective learning and language skills are developed in this unit.

Content:
Lectures and seminars will address 20th Century Italian literary and cultural developments by means of key examples of drama, narrative and film. Set prose texts will cover decadentismo, neorealism, women's writing in the 1970s, and the 1990s giovani cannibali writers. Cinematic representations by 1960s and contemporary film directors will focus on the social and political changes affecting Italy between the 1960s and the 1990s.
Prose texts include a play and three novels:
* Luigi Pirandello, Sei personaggi in cerca d’autore (1921)
* Ignazio Silone, Fontamara (1933, 1949)
* Dacia Maraini, Donna in guerra (1975)
* Aldo Nove, Superwoobinda (1998)
Four films, to be chosen from the following:
* Federico Fellini, La dolce vita (1960)
* Luchino Visconti. Rocco e i suoi fratelli (1960)
* Francesco Rosi, Tre fratelli (1981)
* Nanni Moretti, Caro Diario (1995)
* Nanni Moretti, Aprile (1998)
* Marco Tullio Giordana, I cento passi (2001)
* Paolo Sorrentino, Il divo (2008)
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PL20779 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA (hons) Italian (ab initio) and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AYB14 : BA (hons) Italian and Politics (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AYB08 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (French and ab initio Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AYB04 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (French and Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AYB06 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (German and ab initio Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AYB02 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (German and Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AYB20 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (Spanish and ab initio Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • UHPL-AYB19 : BA (hons) Modern Languages and European Studies (Spanish and Italian) (Full-time with Year Abroad) - Year 2

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2013/4 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2014/15 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2013/14.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.