Dr. Anthony Costantini
FLIT 371 -MODERN ITALIAN CULTURE [18061]
Office Hours: T/Th 9:00-9:30 and 3:50-5:00
Sierra Tower-Office phone- 677-7226
Final Exam- Thursday, May 15 from 12:45 to 2: 45pm
g.vest@csun.edu
Catalogue Course Description
Conducted in English. This course meets the upper division General Education writing
requirements. This course is a survey of contemporary Italy, and captures its major literary
and cultural aspects; it examines the social relations, customs, traditions, and productive
forces that have allowed the country to emerge as one of the most industrialized nations in
Europe; it conveys the Italian spirit and its life style. (Available for General Education:
Comparative Cultural Studies).
Student Learning Outcomes (What knowledge will be gained once the course is
completed). Students will:
1) Describe the Italian people and culture (traditions, habits, customs, and religious
beliefs that constitute the “Italian way of life”) from the inception of the Italian nation
(1860) to present time.
2) Identify and discuss the various artistic movements (such as “neorealism” in film,
theater, and literature, “La Commedia all’italiana”) and aesthetic principles that affected
the social and cultural changes of the time.
3) Demonstrate critical thinking about contemporary issues in today Italian society:
family, religion, divorce, abortion, the role of women, immigration.
4) Identify the productive forces that propel the economy; examine the problem of the
South and the fight against the mafia; explain the role of the media and pop culture.
5) Describe the modes and expressions dealing with critical and aesthetic principles and
their manifestations in literature, theater, cinema, fashion, and industrial design.
6) Identify major historical, social, and cultural events that influenced the creation of a
work of art or the emergence of an artistic movement.
7) Improve their ability to develop and argue a position, to design and pursue their own
research, and to make an effective presentation.
Required Textbooks
Mario Mignone. Italy Today. Facing the Challenges of the New Millennium. Peter Lang,
2007.
Carlo Levi. Christ Stopped at Eboli. New York, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1989.
Italo, Calvino. Marcovaldo or The seasons in the city. New York. Harcourt Brace and
Company, 1983.
Methods of evaluation:
Students will be evaluated based on the following:
First Exam (Essay format)…………………………………..……25%
Second Exam (Essay Format)…………………………….………25%
Attendance and class participation-discussion……………….......25%
Final (Essay format)………………………………………..…. ...25%
Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory. It is the university policy that if you miss more than three
classes without proper “medical” justification, your grade will be lowered one letter
grade ("A" will change to "B").
Outline of Course Content:
Week:
1) General presentation of elements that contributed to the formation of the Italian
present culture and identity. Introduction to the geographical, historical and sociopolitical aspects that led to the formation of contemporary Italy from 1860 to World War
II. (Mignone ,1-27 and 348-351). Start reading Christ Stopped at Eboli.
2) Continuation of the historical aspect: Liberalism and fascist dictatorship. Continuation
of the Reading of next 100 pages of Carlo Levi Christ Stopped at Eboli.
3/4) The “Italian Southern Question.” The economic and social problems of the South
(Mignone, 181-194). Reading of the rest of Christ Stopped at Eboli
5) Discussion on Christ Stopped at Eboli and review.
6) First exam. Italy and the center-right economic changes of the late 40’s. (Mignone,
136-141). Italy and the arts. Presentation of neorealism in movies during the years 194548. Viewing and discussion of Rossellini’s Paisan. Homework to be assigned.
7) The effects of the economic boom of the 50's and early 60's in Italy (Mignone, 138149). The emergence of pop culture and “La commedia all’italiana” in the movies. If
possible, viewing of pieces of Pietro Germi’s Seduced and Abandoned. Reading and
discussion on Calvino’s Marcovaldo.
8. Italian complex political system. Many parties and many governments. Center-right
and center-left. Homework to be assigned.
9) The decade of the 70s.’ The socio-political turmoil: Students’ unrest (Mignone, 8687), and the Red Brigades’terrorism (85-90).
10) Italy and the family. Traditions and changes (abortion and divorce). Mignone , 292333).
11) Second Exam. Mafia and other organized crimes (Mignone, 93-98). Viewing of a
movie.
12) Emigration and immigration. Mignone (207-224).
13) Italy and the love for opera. The "Made in Italy”: A shot of optimism. The Italian
predominance in fashion, design, furniture, cars during the decade of the 80's and 90’s.
The Italian aesthetic renaissance and craftsmanship. (Mignone, 157-165)
14) Italy and the “art to manage” (Mignone, 430). The social function of “caffè” (418),
bar (418), “piazza” (417), feasts and festivals (394-395), food (420-421) and wine (139140 and 419). What is it a “mammone? (310)” and a “vitellone? ”
15) Other aspects of the "Italian life style” such as “la bella figura” (Mignone, 409),
gestures, jokes strikes, passion for soccer (397), and vacation. The last political
phenomena of “Mani pulite” and “Berlusconi.” Final considerations and review.
FINAL