ITAL3214 Italian Cinema

2015

4.5

1 x 3-hour seminar weekly

Students who are taking this topic as part of their Italian Major are expected to have a third level knowledge of Italian culture.

This topic is designed to provide students with background knowledge of the historical and artistic developments that have characterised Italian cinema in the last fifty years; however, the segment provides an overview of the main currents and genres, from silent film to the "white telephones" films of the Fascist era, from world-acclaimed Neorealism to the Commedia all italiana, from the great masters of the 1960s to the award-winning works of later directors such as Moretti, Salvatores, Virzì, Sorrentino.

Language requirements: ALL films to be accessed for this topic are available with English sub-titles. Lectures/seminars will be conducted in English.

This topic aims to provide opportunities for the students to:

• develop an understanding of the basic cinematic techniques employed by film authors, and develop critical skills in analysing films as instruments for the authors artistic expression

• develop their ability to place Italian films in the appropriate artistic/social/historical context, and to identify relationships and reciprocal influences between artistic movements and directors

• acquire or develop background knowledge on the historical developments, socio-cultural issue and artistic movements that have characterised Italian cinema and society

• where applicable, develop further students comprehension of spoken Italian at an advanced level

It is expected that on completion of this topic students will be able to:

• analyse, discuss, compare, interpret and critique different films, film genres and auteurs taking into account basic cinematic techniques and the artistic/social/historical context in which they were created/operated

• read, discuss and critique scholarly articles