Cari colleghi --
mi appello a voi per un consiglio circa la scelta dei film da
includere nel corso che sto preparando per questo semestre. Il titolo del
corso e' "Who's Italian: Images of Citizenship and Immigration in Italian
Film". Eccovi parte della descrizione del corso:
This course raises questions about the formation of citizenship and the
construction of nationhood -- issues that Italy has been grappling with
since it became a nation in 1861. What makes someone a citizen? What sorts
of "illicit" behavior or unacceptable identity -- such as being Jewish or
Albanian -- disqualify or threaten an individual's right to citizenship?
How do Italians see their own experience as immigrants and how do they view
the new immigrants into their own country? The course will turn to Italian
films for answers to these questions. We will be using films as the basis
for in-class discussions and debates of the topic of national identity, but
we will also learn how to analyze film techniques and cinematographic
styles in order to "read" a movie. As a discussion-centered course,
students will be expected to view and think about each movie before class.
Viewing guidelines will be distributed to help students prepare for
discussion.
The films themselves will offer a wide range of examples, clues, and
concrete evidence to help us debate and define the idea of nationhood
within diversity. They will include "Paisan" (1946), an exploration of the
possibilities for cultural understanding between Italians and Americans
amidst the ruins of World War II; "The Garden of the Finzi-Continis"
(1970), an illustration of how political transformation can reshape the
ideas of nationality and citizenship in a country that is dangerously
running toward totalitarianism; "Bread and Chocolate" (1973), a tragicomic
indictment of the conditions of Italian guest-workers living in
Switzerland; and "Lamerica" (1994), focused on the hopes and dreams of the
"new immigrants" coming to Italy from Albania to escape unemployment and
disastrous economical conditions. No knowledge of Italian is required; all
the films will have English subtitles.
Oltre ai film citati nella descrizione (Paisan, Il giardino dei
Fizi-Contini, Pane e cioccolata, Lamerica) ho pensato di includere" Rocco e
i suoi fratelli", ma pochi giorni fa il 'college' mi ha dato la
possibilita' di utilizzare la 'sala cinema' per altre 3 o 4 proiezioni e mi
piacerebbe cogliere questa opportunita' per presentare agli studenti altri
film che siano attinenti in qualche modo all'argomento del corso.
Avete dei suggerimenti?
Grazie
Eduardo Fichera
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Hispanic and Italian Studies
Wheaton College
Norton MA 02766
tel. (508) 286-3697 fax. (508) 286-3640
http://acunix.wheatonma.edu/efichera/
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