HSIT 380i: Cosa nostra: Cinema and History of the (Anti)Mafia
Transcript
HSIT 380i: Cosa nostra: Cinema and History of the (Anti)Mafia
Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. HSIT 380i: Cosa nostra: Cinema and History of the (Anti)Mafia Course Syllabus Spring 2017 Instructor: Elgin K. Eckert, Ph.D. Credits: 4 Contact Hours: 60 (45 hours + 15 hours Italian section) Prerequisites: Intermediate Italian Proficiency (one year of college level Italian or more) Cross-listed: History, Film, Italian Language, Italian Interdisciplinary Studies, Cultural Studies Class Meetings: Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:45pm-3:15pm, Italian Section: Wednesdays, 10:50-11:50am Office Hours: Mondays, 10am-12pm Lab Fee: 15 € Course Description This hybrid history and cinema course provides an in-depth examination of Cosa nostra through a historical, social, and cultural perspective. The course will trace the progression of the Sicilian mafia from the Risorgimento to the present day, also considering the migration of this group into the United States. The fiction – stereotypes, myths and legends – surrounding the mafia will be examined through a scrupulous analysis of some of the most important American and Italian films portraying mafia culture. One of the important parts of this course will consist of a discussion on important protagonists in the fight against the mafia and collaborations between Italian and US law enforcement in their efforts to defeat transatlantic organized crime. The service learning project of this course will reinforce the classroom lessons on this particular subject. Students in the i-section of this course will read about and discuss topics related especially to the Sicilian mafia. They will also read and analyze excerpts from contemporary Italian literature (Andrea Camilleri and Leonardo Sciascia) dealing with the course topic. Service Learning Project Description The association Libera. Associations, names and numbers against mafias was established in 1995 with the purpose of involving and supporting all those who are interested in the fight against mafias and organized crime. Libera is presently a network of more than 1,200 associations, groups and schools, committed to build(ing) up organizational synergies between local political and cultural realities capable of promoting a culture of lawfulness. Students in this course will interact with the local and the global community, sharing insights gained about the history of the (Anti)Mafia as well as reflect critically on the Mafia’s portrayal in Hollywood and Italian films. Students will use the hashtag #antimafianewmedia and/or the Facebook group (Anti)Mafia Reflections to comment on these issues throughout the course. In order to raise awareness, a guest lecturer from Libera will come to talk to students about the association’s history, especially about Italian Law n. 109/96, which hands over properties seized from Mafiosi to co-operations such as Libera. This law is one very concrete example in which criminal activity can be counteracted. As part of the service learning component, students will be asked to raise awareness in the Umbra community about the mafia’s power and history, organizing an evening event during which an anti-mafia documentary will be screened and products from Libera Terra’s line of organic products produced on properties confiscated from the mafia will be tasted. Students will be asked in final service learning assignment to reflect upon their experience with Libera and the social media. Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Course Objectives Students in this course will: have developed a basic understanding of Cosa nostra, its origins, growth and persistence be able to relate historical facts about the mafia to a broader Italian and American context be able to compare and contrast the Italian and American mafia develop an interdisciplinary understanding of a specific aspect of Italian and US history acquire a sufficient appreciation of the representation of the mafia in cinematic popular culture be able to relate films to their specific sociological and historical contexts have improved their ability to think critically about the impact of the Mafia on society (both in history and today) Additional Objectives for the i-Section: Students in the Italian section, in addition to the above objectives will: become confident in discussing topics related to history and cinema in Italian improve their written communication about history cinema in Italian improve their listening comprehension discuss recent Italian historical, social and political events related to course materials in depth read excerpts from contemporary novels, one entire short novel, and several pieces of fiction and non-fiction in Italian Materials Dickie, John. Cosa nostra: A History of the Sicilian mafia. London: 2007. Course reader containing selected secondary readings from: Pickering-Iazzi, Robin. Mafia and Outlaw Stories from Italian Life and Literature. Toronto: Univ of T, 2007. Renga, Dana. Mafia Movies: A Reader. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011. Reppetto, Thomas. American Mafia: A History of its Rise to Power.New York: Holt, 2004. Stille, Alexander. Excellent Cadavers: The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic. New York: Pantheon, 1995. Materials i-Section: Camilleri, Andrea. Par condicio (racconto breve) Nicaso, Antonio. La mafia spiegata ai ragazzi. Milano: Mondadori, 2010. Sciascia, Leonardo. Il giorno della civetta (selezioni) Films The Untouchables – Evening Screening Godfather I – Evening Screening Godfather II (selections) Goodfellas I cento passi (The Hundred Steps) Donnie Brasco– Evening Screening Excellent Cadavers La mafia uccide solo in estate (The Mafia only Kills in Summer) The Sopranos (TV series, selections) Films Italian Section Montalbano: Par condicio Alla luce del sole Bibliography (on reserve in the Umbra Institute Library) Dickie, John. Cosa nostra: A History of the Sicilian mafia. London: 2007. Newark, Timothy. Mafia Allies: The True Story of America's Secret Alliance with the Mob in World War II. St. Paul, MN: Zenith, 2007. Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Pickering-Iazzi, Robin. Mafia and Outlaw Stories from Italian Life and Literature. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007. Raab, Selwyn. Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires. New York: Thomas Dunne, 2005. Renga, Dana. Mafia Movies: A Reader. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011. Reppetto, Thomas. American Mafia: A History of its Rise to Power. New York: Holt, 2004. Stille, Alexander. Excellent Cadavers: The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic. New York: Pantheon, 1995 Attendance Class attendance is mandatory. Students are allowed two “free” absences, which they do not need to justify in any way. Each additional absence, unless for a very serious reason, will lower the student’s grade by one level (e.g., B+ becomes a B). If a student misses class, it is his/her responsibility to obtain class notes from other students and/or for meeting the professor during the office hour. It also the policy of the Institute that any student who has eight or more absences automatically fails the class. Please Note: Presence during mandatory field trips is especially important for student performance in this class. Missing a mandatory field trip, unless for a very serious reason that is communicated to Umbra staff in a timely manner, will lower students’ final grade by one grade level (e.g., a final grade of a B+ would be lowered to a B). Grading (75% of Final Grade) Grades will be awarded on the basis of an in-class midterm examination, a final in-class examination, one short paper (4-5 pages), a student presentation, participation in the service learning project including a 4-5 page reflective paper, five quizzes (based on readings), and class preparation and participation. This course will be taught as a lecture course with frequent group discussions and film screenings. Thus, students are expected to complete the assigned readings before class and to actively contribute to the class discussion. Preparation and Participation 1 Paper Student Reports 5 Quizzes (unannounced beforehand) Service Learning Project Midterm Final Exam 10% 10% 10% 20 % 20% 15% 15% i-Section Grading (25% of Final Grade) Preparation and Participation 4 Written Reflections Midterm Quiz in Italian Final Quiz in Italian 30% 40% 15% 15% Letter Grade Range A AB+ B BC+ C CD+ D DF Numerical Score Equivalent 93% - 100% 90% - 92% 87% -89% 83% - 86% 80% - 82% 77% - 79% 73% - 76% 70% - 72% 67% - 69% 63% - 66% 60% - 62% 59% or less Student Performance Exceptional Excellent Superior Satisfactory Low Pass Fail (no credit) Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Course Content Note Because of the material covered in this course, we will be discussing subjects that may be disturbing, even traumatizing, to some students. Some of the films screened in this course contain scenes of graphic violence and/or murder, both in fictitious and in historical contexts. Students who anticipate discomfort while screening these films should familiarize themselves with the plot before class, and then sit near an exit so that, when necessary, they may step out of the room for a few minutes. Removing yourself for a moment is perfectly fine, and you may always do so without academic penalty. You will, however, be responsible for any material you miss. If you do leave the room for a significant time, please make arrangements to get notes from another student or see me individually to discuss the situation. Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Week 1 Jan. 16 Introduction to the Course Organization of the Mafia Myths and Origins of the Mafia The Risorgimento and the Rise of the Sicilian Mafia Jan. 18 First emergence of the Mafia in the United States the Black Hand the Five Points Gang David Hennesy, New Orleans Joe Petrosino, NYC Readings: Dickie, John. Cosa nostra: Introduction, 1-9; Joe Petrosino. 195-212 Italian Section: Introduction to i-section Immigrati italiani e l’inizio di una cultura italo-americana Week 2 Jan. 23 Italian immigrants in the US in the early 1900s Francis Ford Coppola Godfather II (selections) An Important Note on Film Screenings You must treat each film screening as you would a reading. You are expected to be an active viewer, looking for historical, political, economic, social, cultural, narrative, and aesthetic meaning. You must take notes on every film you see. For each film, you are expected to be able to analyze the characters, themes, film techniques, narrative organization, historical significance, relation to history/film history, etc. Readings: Reppetto, Thomas. American Mafia chapter 1, 2 TUESDAY, JAN. 24: Jan. 25 EVENING SCREENING OF BRIAN DE PALMA’S THE UNTOUCHABLES Discussion of Brian De Palma’s film The Untouchables The Rise of the US mafia Prohibition Al Capone Reading: Bouchard, Norma.“Between Postmodern Parody and Generic Hybridization: The Gangsters of Brian De Palma’s the Untouchables”. Mafia Movies: A Reader. Ed. Dana Renga. University of Toronto Press, 2011. 126–133. Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Italian Section: Che cos’è la mafia? Com’è organizzata la mafia? Quando nasce la mafia Che cosa significa la parola mafia? Reading: Nicaso La mafia pp. 9-19 Week 3 Jan. 30 Al Capone (cont.) Film Techniques The Mafia on Film Reading: Reppetto, Thomas. American Mafia chapter 6, 7 Feb. 1 The Fascist Ventennio Benito Mussolini and World War II Fascist Suppression of the Mafia Cesare Mori, the Iron Prefect Lucky Luciano (cont.) Reading: Dickie, John. Cosa nostra: The Man with Hair on his Heart. 171-192. Italian Section: il vocabolario del cinema Leonardo Sciascia: lo scrittore siciliano Reading: Leonardo Sciascia Il giorno della civetta incipit Scrittura 1: Riflessioni su Sciascia Week 4 Feb. 6 Lucky Luciano Operation Husky Reading: Tim Newark “Pact with the Devil” in American History, April 2007. MONDAY, FEB. 6: Feb. 8 Discussion of The Godfather Lucky Luciano (cont.) EVENING SCREENING OF FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S GODFATHER I Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Readings: Anthony Julian Tamburri Michael Corleone’s Tie: Francis Ford Coppola’s’ The Godfather.’ Mafia Movies: A Reader. Dana Renga, ed. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2011. 94-101. Italian Section: La mafia nella letteratura italiana Andrea Camilleri La “cosca” I giovani nella mafia Reading: Nicaso La mafia pp. 20-28 Andrea Camilleri Par condicio p. 18-20 Week 5 Feb. 13 Italian Politics after WWII: the PCI and the DC Bandito Giuliano Placido Rizzotto Sack of Palermo The First Mafia War The 1970’s in Italy Reading: Dickie, John. Cosa nostra: The Last Bandit. 260-268. The Sack of Palermo. pp. 277-288 Like Chicago in the Twentieth. pp. 309-318 Feb 15 Screening of Marco Tullio Giordano’s I cento passi (beginning) Reading: Dickie, John. Cosa nostra: The Antimafia. 319- 324; Death of a Leftist Fanatic, The Pizza Connection. pp. 344361 Italian Section: Discussione del racconto breve di Andrea Camilleri: Par condicio (cont) Film: Montalbano Par condicio (in italiano con sottotitoli in italiano) Reading: Andrea Camilleri Par condicio p. 20-26 Week 6 Feb. 20 Screening of Marco Tullio Giordano’s I cento passi (cont.) Reading: Felicia Impastato Testimony Small, Pauline. “Giordana’s I cento passi: renegotiating the Mafia codes” in New Cinemas: Journal of Contemporary Film vol. 3(1), pp. 41-54 (marked selections) Feb. 22 Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. The Commission in the US and the US Mafia in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s The RICO Act Mafia Commission Trial information gathering: pentiti the Emergence of the Corleonesi pre-lecture discussion and preparation of questions to ask Reading: Dickie, John. Cosa nostra pp. 367-396 Italian Section: Peppino Impastato Discussione del racconto breve di Andrea Camilleri: Par condicio (cont.) Film: Montalbano Par condicio (in italiano con sottotitoli in italiano) Reading: Nicaso La mafia pp. 128-130 Andrea Camilleri Par condicio 26-30 Scrittura 2: Riflessioni sul racconto e film Par condicio Week 7 Feb. 27 GUEST LECTURE: LIBERA. ASSOCIATIONS, NAMES AND NUMBERS AGAINST MAFIAS Mar. 1 In-class Midterm Italian Section: Midterm Quiz in italiano Week 8 Mar. 13 Screening of Goodfellas Mar. 15 Screening of Goodfellas (cont.) Discussion of Goodfellas Reading: Fulvio Orsitto. “Martin Scorsese’s GoodFellas: Hybrid Storytelling between Realism and Formalism” Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Italian Section: le donne nella mafa guerra tra mafiosi il pizzo Reading: Nicaso La mafia pp. 29-36 Week 9 Mar. 20 The Second Mafia War The Anti-Mafia Pool Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa Rocco Chinnici Reading: Alexander Stille. Excellent Cadavers, pp. 60-86 TUESDAY, MARCH 21: EVENING SCREENING OF MIKE NEWELL’S DONNIE BRASCO Mar. 22 Discussion of Donnie Brasco Giovanni Falcone Paolo Borsellino Tommaso Buscetta Reading: Alexander Stille. Excellent Cadavers, pp. 87-133 Italian Section: il pentito e collaboratori di giustizia la scorta Tommaso Buscetta Reading: Nicaso La mafia pp. 60-66 Week 10 Mar. 27 The Mafia’s War on the Government The Maxi Trial The Capaci Bomb and after Capaci Screening of Excellent Cadavers Reading: Alexander Stille. Excellent Cadavers, 154-189 Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Mar. 29 STUDENT REPORTS Politics and Mafia Salvo Lima Giulio Andreotti The Vatican and the Mafia Screening of Excellent Cadavers (cont.) Reading: Dickie, John. Cosa nostra pp. 362-366, 397-425 Italian Section: Giovanni Falcone Paolo Borsellino Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa Reading: Nicaso La mafia pp. 115-123 Ricerca e Scrittura 3: Una vittima di mafia Week 11 Apr. 3 In-class Work on Community Engagement presentation Reading: Spazzini, Maddalena. “Marco Turco’s Excellent Cadavers: An Italian Tragedy”. Apr. 5 The Mafia Commission Trial in the New York City NYC “Teflon Don” John Gotti The Mafia in the USA today Italian Section: Don Pino Puglisi Film: Alla luce del sole (in italiano con sottotitoli in italiano) Reading: Nicaso La mafia pp. 132-133 Week 12 Apr. 10 Bernardo Provenzano Matteo Messina Denaro and the Modern Mafia Screening of La mafia uccide solo in estate (The Mafia only Kills in Summer) beginning Reading: Dickie, John. Cosa nostra pp. 426-443, 447-459 Syllabi available for download from the Umbra Institute website only with the purpose of informing students and advisers about course content. All rights are reserved. Apr. 12 Screening of La mafia uccide solo in estate (The Mafia only Kills in Summer) cont. Reading: John Dickie Cosa nostra 418-425 Evening: Service Learning Project - Screening of Documentary and Tasting Italian Section: Don Pino Puglisi Film: Alla luce del sole (in italiano con sottotitoli in italiano) cont. Scrittura 4: Riflessioni sul film Alla luce del sole Week 13 Apr. 17 Easter Monday, no class Apr. 19 Short Paper due Screening of The Sopranos (selections) Reading: Toscano, Aaron A. “Tony Soprano As The American Everyman And Scoundrel: How The Sopranos (Re)Presents Contemporary Middle-Class Anxieties.” Journal of Popular Culture 47.3 (2014): 451-469. Italian Section: Quiz finale in italiano Apr. 24-27 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRESENTATIONS DURING SPECIAL ACADEMIC EVENTS WEEK FINAL EXAM: DATE AND TIME TBA