ITALIAN 312 : Special Topic: Italy on Screen

Arts

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Highlights Italy's distinctive film tradition from the post-World War II period to the present through the examination of a variety of film genres and filmmakers. Considers the sources, complexities and resonances of these films and how they refer to historical, social and political issues and to cinematic conventions. This course is designed for Italian majors and students enrolled in the Certificate/Diploma in Languages (Italian).

Course Overview

Italian films display an extraordinary power and originality and have long attracted an enthusiastic cinema-going public within and outside Italy. This course highlights Italy’s distinctive film tradition through the examination of a variety of film genres and filmmakers. It considers the sources, complexities and resonances of these films and the ways in which they refer, directly or obliquely, to the social and political issues of their times. Topics covered include: representation of WWII, the post-war years and the economic boom, migration and mobility (past and present), gender and sexuality, and economic crises. In considering these themes, the course provides opportunities for reflection on aesthetic continuities and breaks with film movements (realism, comedy, road-movies) as well as on the recurrence of cinematic tropes (such as the child’s gaze).

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: ITALIAN 107 Restriction: ITALIAN 211, 212

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate Demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of major historical events and social issues in Italy from the post-war to the present (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.2)
  2. Demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of Italian film movements and genres from the post-war to the present (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.2)
  3. Evaluate the individual films studied in the course and their aesthetic continuities and breaks with film traditions (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 6.1 and 6.2)
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of of the ways in which these films reflect or challenge societal norms (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  5. Explain and critically evaluate the films from a range of perspectives (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Test 30% Individual Coursework
Online Discussions 20% Individual Coursework
Group Presentation 20% Group Coursework
Essay/Video Essay 30% Individual Coursework

Module

Course Outline:

Introduction and Neorealism
Lecture 1: Introduction to Italian Cinema

Lecture 2 HIstory and Cinema: C'eravamo tanto amati/ We all loved each other so much Ettore Scola

Lecture 3 Neorealism:  Roma città aperta/Rome Open City Roberto Rossellini and  Ladri di biciclette/Bicycle ThievesVittorio De Sica

From Commedia all'italiana to the New Italian Comedy:
Lecture 4: Commedia all’italiana: I soliti ignoti/Big Deal on Madonna Street Mario Monicelli
Lecture 5: The New Italian comedy: Pane e tulipani/Bread and Tulips Silvio Soldini

Auteur Cinema of the 1960s
Lecture 6: La Dolce Vita (Fellini)
Lecture 7: L'eclisse/The Eclipse (Antonioni)

Immigration and Identity:
Lecture 8: Pane e cioccolata/Bread and Chocolate, Franco Brusati
Lecture 9:  Io sono Li/Shun Li and the Poet, Andrea Segre,
Italian Women Filmmakers and the 'Gendered' Screen

Italian Women Filmmakers and the Gendered Screen
Lecture 10: Il più bel giorno della mia vita/The Best Day of My Life, Cristina Comencini
Lecture 11: Cosmonauta/ Cosmonaut ,Susanna Nicchiarelli

Conclusion: Economic crisis, anxiety and clash of values in contemporary Italy
Lecture 12 Il capitale umano/Human Capital, Paolo Virzi

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard  15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 7 hours of reading and thinking about the content and work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Online (By prior arrangement with the Course Coordinator)

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is not required for the test.
Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 29/06/2021 04:57 p.m.