ITAL10110 Italy

Academic Year 2024/2025

This is an elective module designed as an introduction to Italian culture from a variety of perspectives. It is designed for non-specialists, so students do not need to be familiar either with Italian language or with the country of Italy before taking this module.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students will have:
• An awareness of Italy as a country
• Familiarity with cultural elements of Italy
• A new knowledge of certain aspects of historical and modern Italy
• An ability to respond to basic quiz questions on module content
• An ability to prepare a presentation on one or more aspects of Italy touched on during this module

Indicative Module Content:

This module will cover a wide variety of weekly topics taught by specialist lecturers:
● Week 1. Introduction to the module. Constructing and Deconstructing Italianness (Dr Marco Bellardi)
● Week 2. Commedia dell’Arte Masks as Stereotypes in Early Modern Theatre (Dr Matteo Leta)
● Week 3. Matilde Serao and Naples (Prof Ursula Fanning)
● Week 4. Motherhood (Dr Valeria Taddei)
● Week 5. The Resistenza - History and Context (Dr Paolo Acquaviva)
● Week 6. The Resistenza - Issues and Legacy (Dr Paolo Acquaviva)
● Week 7. Italy and Food (Dr Valeria Taddei)
● Week 8. Changes in the Italian Landscape during the Economic Boom (Dr Claudia Dellacasa)
● Week 9. Cultural Labour in Italy: The Case of Luciano Bianciardi (Dr Claudia Dellacasa)
● Week 10. The Mafia in Italy: Men of Honour, Repentants and the Maxi Trial (Dr Mara Josi)
● Week 11. Local and Global Mob: The Development of 'Ndrangheta in the 20th and 21st century (Dr Matteo Leta)
● Week 12. Elena Ferrante: Who is s/he and how is the work read outside of Italy? (Prof Ursula Fanning)

The topics above were part of the '23-'24 syllabus and should be considered as purely indicative. Topics are subject to change as lecturers rotate each year.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Specified Learning Activities

38
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module will be based largely on individual self-study (although students are welcome to discuss in groups).
Teaching strategies will favour lectures, including some interactive discussions and student participation. Some quiz questions, reading, or minor research prep topics may be set from one week to the next (see BrightSpace).
Through broader bibliographies and online references, students are encouraged to read more deeply into individual topics that might be of interest to them.
As this module is an Elective, it is expected that students are not necessarily students of language, of cultures, of literature, or of Humanities and the Teaching/Learning approaches will reflect this non-specialist awareness. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment(Including Essay): Final assignment: a 10-min visual video-presentation on one of the weekly subjects covered during the module. The file is to be uploaded onto BrightSpace (further information will be provided). n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

40
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Short quizzes based on weekly lecture topics n/a Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No

60

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided in the form of summative assessment (on quizzes) and also for final e-presentation. Also, individual feedback may be provided at any time during term by agreed appointment to individual students who wish to request an appointment with individual lecturers or with the module coordinator.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Paolo Acquaviva Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Bianca Cataldi Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sarah Culhane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Claudia Dellacasa Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sara Delmedico Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Ursula Fanning Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Mara Josi Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Serena Laiena Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Matteo Leta Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Valeria Taddei Lecturer / Co-Lecturer