2024-2025 / LROM0124-3

Italian civilization I

Theory

Visit

Duration

Theory : 30h Th
Visit : 3d FT Tr.

Number of credits

 Bachelor in modern languages and literatures : general5 crédits 

Lecturer

Theory : Thea Rimini
Visit : Thea Rimini

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course will be divided into two parts:

  • An introduction to the political, social and cultural history of Italy in the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • A focus on Neorealism, a crucial period in political, social, literary and artistic terms, mobilising a broad spectrum of languages (cinema, music, painting, etc.).
A polyphonic and interdisciplinary movement, Neorealism marked the post-war period in Italy and left the country with a shared emotional heritage that was unrivalled in the years that followed. Writers, artists and film-makers explored the recesses of reality, convinced that they could at last show and tell everything. The working classes were given pride of place, the key word became 'document', and the epic of the Resistance was one of the most frequently addressed themes.

The course proposes to analyse this movement by reading extracts, in French, from writers such as I. Calvino, B. Fenoglio and P. Levi, as well as by commenting on films (Les amants diaboliques by L. Visconti, Rome, open city by R. Rossellini, Le Voleur de bicyclette by V. De Sica, all with French subtitles), and examining paintings (in particular the paintings of R. Guttuso). We will look at the way in which Italian literature, cinema and painting have recounted the Resistance and dealt with the social and cultural tensions of the post-war period.

Theory

The course will be divided into two parts:

  • An introduction to the political, social and cultural history of Italy in the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • A focus on Neorealism, a crucial period in political, social, literary and artistic terms, mobilising a broad spectrum of languages (cinema, music, painting, etc.).
A polyphonic and interdisciplinary movement, Neorealism marked the post-war period in Italy and left the country with a shared emotional heritage that was unrivalled in the years that followed. Writers, artists and film-makers explored the recesses of reality, convinced that they could at last show and tell everything. The working classes were given pride of place, the key word became 'document', and the epic of the Resistance was one of the most frequently addressed themes.

The course proposes to analyse this movement by reading extracts, in French, from writers such as I. Calvino, B. Fenoglio and P. Levi, as well as by commenting on films (Les amants diaboliques by L. Visconti, Rome, open city by R. Rossellini, Le Voleur de bicyclette by V. De Sica, all with French subtitles), and examining paintings (in particular the paintings of R. Guttuso). We will look at the way in which Italian literature, cinema and painting have recounted the Resistance and dealt with the social and cultural tensions of the post-war period.

Visit

Various cultural activities (such as screenings, performances, lectures, visits, etc.) will be organized in connection with the theoretical content of the course. These activities are considered an integral part of the program and may be subject to evaluation. Specific information regarding the organization of these activities will be communicated to students at a later time.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of this course, students will have acquired an overview of the history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Italy. They will be able to identify the themes as well as the rhetorical and narrative structures of neorealist texts, and to apply them to texts similar to those studied in class.

 

Theory

By the end of this course, students will have acquired an overview of the history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Italy. They will be able to identify the themes as well as the rhetorical and narrative structures of neorealist texts, and to apply them to texts similar to those studied in class.

 

Visit

At the end of this part of the course, the student will have become familiar with crucial periods of Italian history through different artistic languages. 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

No prerequisites

Theory

No prerequisites

Visit

No prerequisites

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Reading, analysis and commentary aimed at global and detailed understanding of texts, films and paintings. Interactive method.

Participation in the course will be required and encouraged.

Students are expected to read or view in advance the texts and films that will be covered in the course.

Theory

Reading, analysis and commentary aimed at global and detailed understanding of texts, films and paintings. Interactive method.

Participation in the course will be required and encouraged.

Students are expected to read or view in advance the texts and films that will be covered in the course.

Visit

Various cultural activities (such as screenings, performances, lectures, visits, etc.) will be organized in connection with the theoretical content of the course.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

A+.

Theory

A+.

Visit

A+.

Recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Primary corpus

Reading of literary texts and viewing of films to be analysed in class (a list will be provided at the beginning of the course).

Reading and analysis of a short story, in addition to the one studied in class, from I. Calvino, The Raven Comes Last [1949], trans. by R. Stragliati, Julliard, 2002.

Texts will be available on eCampus.

Bibliography

 J.-D. Durand, L'Italie de 1815 à nos jours, Paris, Hachette Supérieur, 2018 [une sélection de chapitres]

 M. Cassc (éd.), Littérature et cinéma néoréalistes : réalisme, réel et représentation, Paris, Editions L'Harmattan, 2004 [une sélection de chapitres]

Theory

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Primary corpus

Reading of literary texts and viewing of films to be analysed in class (a list will be provided at the beginning of the course).

Reading and analysis of a short story, in addition to the one studied in class, from I. Calvino, The Raven Comes Last [1949], trans. by R. Stragliati, Julliard, 2002.

Texts will be available on eCampus.

Bibliography

 J.-D. Durand, L'Italie de 1815 à nos jours, Paris, Hachette Supérieur, 2018 [une sélection de chapitres]

M. Cassac (éd.), Littérature et cinéma néoréalistes : réalisme, réel et représentation, Paris, Editions L'Harmattan, 2004 [une sélection de chapitres]

Visit

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus

Assessment methods and criteria

oral examination

Theory

oral examination

Visit

oral examination

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Tuesday from 11 am to 1 pm

Lecture Hall: A4 R30 (0/2)

Theory

Tuesday from 11 am to 1 pm

Lecture Hall: A4 R30 (0/2)

Visit

The organizational details will be communicated to the students at the beginning of the course.

Contacts

Teacher: Thea Rimini (reception of students by appointment)

Office: A2 6/18 

E-mail: thea.rimini@uliege.be

Theory

Teacher: Thea Rimini 
Office: A2 6/18 

E-mail: thea.rimini@uliege.be

Visit

Thea Rimini

Office A2 6/18 

thea.rimini@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs