Explore UCD

UCD Home >

ITAL30330

Academic Year 2026/2027

Italian Cinema and Society (ITAL30330)

Subject:
Italian
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
3 (Degree)
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.
This module is double-coded with ITAL20230 and should be taken only by students in Film Studies and/or Creative and Cultural Industries. All other students who wish to take this module should register in ITAL20230.

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

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Advanced Beginner

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Novice

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Novice

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Advanced Beginner

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Advanced Beginner

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

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 and provided by the lecturer.
Students may use generative AI only for reviewing/refining essays and for essay planning, according to the Guidelines adopted by the College of Arts and Humanities, which will be circulated by the lecturer.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

An interest in Italian cinema, culture and society.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
ITAL20230 - Italian cinema and society


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): 3000 words final essay. Students can choose from a range of titles. Week 14 Graded No
60
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: mid-term in-class test on the content covered in weeks 1-7 Week 8 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: End-of-term in-class quiz Week 12 Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


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

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 Thurs 16:00 - 16:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.