LANG 380 World Cinema
Spring 2012: Mafia in Italian Film
Mafioso (Lattuada 1962)
Course for students who are interested in knowing about Italian mafia over time and how the organization is depicted in films by Italian directors. The focus is on social and historical aspects.
Textbook: Dana Renga (ed.), Mafia Movies. A Reader.
Final project
As a final project, students recreate a scene from one of the films that we watch in class. Papers accompany the short movies explaining why the students chose that particular scene, and in particular, to discuss the historical and social elements connected to the mafia that are demonstrated by that particular scene.
Fall 2011: Italian Neorealism in Film
Ladri di biciclette (De sica 1948)
A course on Italian Neorealism in cinema with a focus on cultural, social, and historical aspects.
Textbook: Millicent Marcus, Italian Film in the Light of Neorealism.
Final project
As a final project, students remake a scene from one of the films that we watch in class. Papers accompany the short movies to explain why the students chose that particular scene and to discuss the neorealist elements that are demonstrated by that particular scene.
Students projects:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDWhTsMNnnM&feature=channel_video_title
Spring 2011: Italian Migrations in Film
An Italian immigrant family arrives at Ellis Island, New York
The course is on Italian migrations over time and it traces how the phenomenon is depicted in film by Italian or non-Italian directors. The focus is on social and historical aspects with the goal of covering twentieth century migrations involving Italy and Italians. The core of the course is divided into four main themes: (1) Migration from Italy to the US: The Past; (2) Economic Boom and Migration within Italy; (3) Migration to Italy; (4) Migration from Italy to the US: The Present.