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ITAL20230

Academic Year 2024/2025

Italian cinema and society (ITAL20230)

Subject:
Italian
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Marco Bellardi
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module explores Italian cinema and the evolution of Italy’s film industry through the critical analysis of key genre categories and filmmaking modes (neorealism, auteur cinema, comedy, spaghetti western, the thriller, political film, migration cinema). These genre categories will be represented by a series of films that span from the post-war period to today. Students will be introduced to the critical concepts that underpin film analysis, while also developing a strong understanding of genre theory. Through close readings of individual films we will explore how genre categories and conventions can be used to discuss issues of social change and progress throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. In particular, we will examine questions of national identity, gender representation and the reception of popular genres.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Apply key theories and concepts of film studies to their analysis of individual films.
2. Conduct close textual analysis of the key films.
3. Critically analyse the conventions and cultural significance of key genre categories.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of social issues that inform the production and reception context of the key films.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of some of the key moments and debates in Italian cinema history.
6. Apply a comparative approach to the analysis of two or more films in the final essay
7. Use a range of theoretical and critical sources to ground their argument in the final essay.


Indicative Module Content:

Topics covered in this module include:
- Introduction to Italian film studies and genre theory
- Genre as an analytic tool for exploring social change
- Neorealism
- Auteur cinema
- Commedia all’italiana
- Spaghetti western
- Horror and thriller
- Migration cinema

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Tutorial

12
Specified Learning Activities

43
Autonomous Student Learning

43
Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module consists of one lecture hour and one seminar hour per week. In preparation for lectures and seminars, students will be asked to view the key films and engage with select secondary readings in order to participate in task-based activities (group discussions, textual analysis of key texts and secondary sources).
All films will be made available with English subtitles. All mandatory readings are in English.
Note that students must not use generative AI in any assignment for any purpose.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

An interest in Italian cinema, culture and society.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
ITAL30330 - Italian Cinema and Society


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Quizzes/Short Exercises: mid-term online quiz on the content covered in weeks 1-7 Week 7 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: End-of-term online quiz on the content covered in weeks 8-12 Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 2000 words final essay. Students can choose from a range of titles Week 14 Graded No
60
 No

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
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

For the quizzes: feedback is automatically generated by the system. An informal feedback will also be provided to the group in class. For the final essay: written feedback will be provided to each Individual student. The weekly seminars will consist of discussion based activities during which there will be regular opportunities for peer feedback

Name Role
Assoc Professor Paolo Acquaviva Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
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