01:560:302 ITALIAN CULTURE THROUGH CONTEMPORARY

01:560:302 ITALIAN CULTURE THROUGH CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
Rutgers University
Department of Italian
Instructor: Ilona Hrenko
84 College Avenue
Email: [email protected]
Course Description:
Taught in Italian, this course explores typical aspects of current Italian life through the
analysis of texts taken from contemporary Italian literature. Each topic covered in the
readings will also be examined through songs and films by Italian artists of the last 20 years.
Introducing these three different mediums gives students the opportunity to learn about
fundamental socio-cultural aspects from more than one perspective. The different techniques
and type of media, new and more traditional, contribute to give a more complete picture: not
only of the changing Italian cultural context but also of the development of the language.
Class activities include reading and analyzing literary texts, listening to and analyzing songs,
and watching clips. Oral and written exercises include comprehension (global and more
detailed), oral and written production through guided activities, learning vocabulary and
idioms, and revising linguistic structures introduced in the texts.
Reading selections from the works of: Beppe Severgnini, Pier Vittorio Tondelli, Enrico
Brizzi, Fabio Volo, Luciano Ligabue, Giuseppe Culicchia, Domenico Starnone, Sandro
Onofri, Susanna Tamaro, Margaret Mazzantini, Paola Mastrocola, Niccolo' Ammanniti and
Tiziano Scarpa.
Songs by: Andrea Bocelli, Eros Ramazzotti, Povia, Luciano Ligabue, Toto Cutugno
Film clips from: L'Ultimo Bacio, Baci e Abbracci, Radiofreccia, Jack Frusciante e' uscito dal
gruppo, La fame chimica, Non ti muovere, Caterina va in citta', Io non ho paura, Il
Commissario Montalbano, documentari sull'Italia.
Learning Goals:
This course provides students with the skills necessary to critically engage with different
aspects of contemporary Italian life, society, and culture. Students will be able to discuss and
write about topics through the use of multiple formats, and to make comparisons between the
styles and techniques used by the different authors. Through class presentations, intensive
textual analysis, oral and written exercises students will acquire not only a vocabulary
adequate to upper intermediate and advanced levels, but also the ability to understand
differences between formal, informal and regional registers.
Department Goals I and III: Linguistic Proficiency and Professional Preparation
Required Texts:
For the reading aspects, students will be provided with the copies of the extracts both in print
and in electronic format. The course packets are available at the Italian Department (84
College Avenue). Digital texts will be on SAKAI.
A good Italian/English Dictionary, such as Collins.
Course Requirements and Grade distribution:
Participation, 25%: Active participation in class discussion based on the preparation of three
to five questions assigned in advance for each class. More than 3 absences will negatively
affect the participation grade.
Presentations, 25%: 2 presentations on 2 different topics chosen in consultation with the
instructor. Written versions must be submitted.
Midterm, 25%: Identifications and essay questions.
Final, 25%: Identifications and essay questions.
Attendance, Participation, and Disabilities Policies
All students must attend regularly. No more than three absences are allowed (use them wisely,
for health and other serious issues). Having more than three absences, arriving to class late,
and engaging in behavior that is distracting to the rest of the class are grounds for a
significantly lower mark in class participation.
In case students with disabilities should require any special type of assistance and would like
to request accommodations, they must follow the procedures outlined at:
http://disabilityservices.rutgers.edu/request.html
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Active collaboration with classmates is encouraged in class discussion, presentations, and
preparation. You may share notes and ideas with other students. However, you may not
collaborate with anyone else when taking the examinations. Written work and research must
result from your own individual effort. In order to avoid plagiarism (the representation of the
words or ideas of another as one’s own), every quotation must be identified by quotation
marks or by appropriate indentation and must be properly cited in the text or in a footnote.
Always acknowledge your sources clearly and completely when you paraphrase or summarize
material from another source (in print, electronic or other medium) in whole or in part in. If
you are in doubt, please consult the policy on plagiarism and academic integrity at Rutgers
and do not hesitate to ask me. http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml
Calendario delle lezioni
Week one
Introduction to the course.
Wed. Introduzione al corso. Gli autori e le tematiche presi in esame.
Week two
Introducing the Italians
Mond. Beppe Severgnini, La Testa degli italiani, 1-6
Wed. Beppe Severgnini, La Testa degli italiani, 6-11, discussions, oral and written activities
song: Italia di Andrea Bocelli
film: 15 minuti di documentario sull'Italia
Week three
Friendship
Mon. Pier Vittorio Tondelli, Ragazzi a Natale, 33-36
Wed. Pier Vittorio Tondelli, Ragazzi a Natale, 37-40, discussions, oral and written activities
clips from: Baci e Abbracci di Paolo Virzi'
Week four
Children and Crime
Mon. Niccolo' Ammaniti, Io non ho paura, 34-40
Wed. Niccolo' Ammaniti, Io non ho paura, 41-46 , discussions, oral and written activities
song: I bambini fanno oh di Povia
clips from: Io non ho paura di Gabriele Salvatores
Week five
Clans in Schools
Mon. Reading Paola Mastrocola, Una barca nel bosco, 21-25
Wed. Paola Mastrocola, Una barca nel bosco, 25-30, discussions, oral and written
activities
clips from: Caterina va in citta' di Paolo Virzi'
Week six
Immigration and Life in the Suburbs
Mon. Reading Sandro Onofri, Storia di Osvaldo 11-13
Wed. Sandro Onofri, Storia di Osvaldo discussions, oral and written activities
song: Adesso tu di Eros Ramazzotti,
clips from: La fame chimica di Paolo Vari e Antonio Bocola
Week seven
Family and Relationships Among Young Professionals
Mon. Reading Fabio Volo, Liberatemi da E' una vita che ti aspetto 1-5
Wed. Fabio Volo, Liberatemi da E' una vita che ti aspetto 6-10,
discussions, oral and written activities
clips from: L'Ultimo bacio di Gabriele Muccino
Week eight
Mon. MIDTERM
Provincial Living
Wed. Reading Il cantante, il borgo e l'era dell'acquario da Fuori e Dentro il Borgo di
Luciano Ligabue 16-20
Week nine
Mon. Il cantante, il borgo e l'era dell'acquario da Fuori e Dentro il Borgo di Luciano
Ligabue 21-24, discussions, oral and written activities
song: Piccola citta' eterna di Luciano Ligabue
Wed. Il cantante, il borgo e l'era dell'acquario da Fuori e Dentro il Borgo di Luciano
Ligabue 16-23, discussions, oral and written activities
clips from: Radiofreccia di Luciano Ligabue
Week ten
Life, Love and the People of Venice
Mon. Reading Tiziano Scarpa, Venezia e' un pesce 1-5
Wed. Tiziano Scarpa, Venezia e' un pesce 5-10
discussions, oral and written activities
Week eleven
Mon. Tiziano Scarpa, Venezia e' un pesce 1-8
further discussions, oral and written activities
clips from : documentaries of Venice
Youth Culture
Wed. Reading Enrico Brizzi, Jack Frusciante e' uscito dal gruppo 25-29
Week twelve
Mon. Enrico Brizzi, Jack Frusciante e' uscito dal gruppo 30-33
discussions, oral and written activities
clips from: Jack Frusciante e' uscito dal gruppo di Enza Negroni
Love in Crisis
Wed. Reading Margaret Mazzantini, Non ti muovere 1-5
Week thirteen
Mon. Margaret Mazzantini, Non ti muovere 5-10
discussions, oral and written activities
songs: Gli amori di Toto Cutugno
Wed. Margaret Mazzantini, Non ti muovere
further discussions, oral and written activities
clips from: Non ti muovere di Sergio Castellito
Week fourteen
Life and Crime in Sicily
Mon. Reading Andrea Camilleri, Stiamo parlando di miliardi da Gli arancini di
Montalbano, 11-15
Wed. Andrea Camilleri, Stiamo parlando di miliardi da Gli arancini di Montalbano, 16-20
discussions,oral and written activities
clips from: Il Commissario Montalbano, TV series RAI
Week fifteen
Conclusions
FINAL EXAM
For possible changes in date, time, and location please check the link:
http://finalexams.rutgers.edu/
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ammaniti, Niccolò (2001) Io non ho paura. Torino: Einaudi.
Brizzi, Enrico (1994) Jack Fruscante è uscito dal gruppo. Milano: Baldini Castoldi.
Camilleri , Andrea (1999) Gli arancini di Montalbano, Milano: Mondadori.
Ligabue, Luciano (1997) Fuori e dentro il borgo. Milano:Baldini Castoldi.
Mastrocola, Paola (2004) Una barca nel bosco. Parma: Guanda.
Mazzantini, Margaret (2004) Non ti muovere. Milano: Mondadori.
Onofri, Sandro (2002) Cose che succedono. Torino: Einaudi.
Scarpa, Tiziano (2003) Venezia è un pesce. Una guida. Milano: Feltrinelli.
Severgnini, Beppe (2005) La testa degli italiani. Rizzoli.
Tondelli, Pier Vittorio (1991) Ragazzi a Natale in: Italiana. Antologia dei nuovi narratori. Milano: Mondadori.
Volo, Fabio (2003) È una vita che ti aspetto. Milano: Mondadori.