83692 - Introduction to Italian Culture (1)

Learning outcomes

The course is primarily addressed to UNIBO international students from all Schools and Departments, with the goal of introducing them to the culture and history of their hosting country and city, but also for operating as a space of integration between international and local students. At the end of the course students will acquire a basic knowledge of crucial aspects of the Italian cultural heritage across different disciplines and an awareness of the complexities of Italian history and society.

Course contents

Conceived as an interdisciplinary program, the course is taught in English, and consists of two seminar cycles, one for each semester (30 hours each for a total amount of 60 hours per year). Every week some of our best faculty and guest lecturers will offer new insights on crucial aspects of Italian culture. Students can attend single classes of their interest, but they can also obtain academic credits through regular attendance and coursework. The programme will also include special events in which students will have the opportunity to visit some of Bologna’s cultural institutions that will be defined in the course of the seminar.

The lectures will take place on Thursdays from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Aula Magna, Piazza Scaravilli.

Participants will get 6 credits (CFU) for each seminar cycle (12 CFU in total). Attendance is mandatory (only 2 absences per semester are allowed) and students are required to submit a 10-page paper (approx. 4,000 words) at the end of each semester on one of the topics discussed during the course. In order to get credits, students must include INTRODUCTION TO ITALIAN CULTURE in their STUDY PLAN in the first week of the term.

The first introductory lecture will take place on 18 September (8 pm). All students are welcome to attend.

Info in summary

• All students welcome (recommended for international students)
• 2 seminar cycles (Thursdays 8-10 pm) + special events/field trips; 30 hours/6 CFUs each semester
• To get the credits: you can attend either a single semester (6 CFU) or both (12 CFU); attendance is mandatory (only two absences per semester allowed), you must submit the final essay(s); you must include the course in your study plan before the beginning of the semester (course code: 83692).
• Assessment: 10-page paper (approx. 4,000 words) per 1semester (pass/fail)
• Teaching Language: English

Lecture Plan

18 September

Angelo Mangini: Welcome Day: Introduction to the Course

25 September

Bruno Settis: The Italian Rise of Fascism

2 October

Paolo Noto: Italian Screen Image from WWII to My Brilliant Friend

9 October

Stefano Colangelo: The Staging of a Nation: From Verdi to Puccini, 1851-1904

16 October

Angelo Mangini: The Origins of Italian Literary Culture

23 October

Angelo Mangini: Text and Image: The Episode of Paolo and Francesca (Inferno 5)

6 November

Gianluca Del Monaco: Bologna as Avignon: Circulating People and Objects in the Time of Giotto

13 November

Andrea Severi: Italian Humanism / Italian Renaissance. What is the difference?

20 November

Giulia Fiore: Staging Greek Tragedy in Modern Italy

27 November

Angelo Mangini: Dante’s Political Vision: Church and Empire.

4 December

Antonio Del Vecchio: Italy as a Laboratory of Political Thought

11 December

Sonia Cavicchioli: Raphael and the Decoration of Suburban villas in Renaissance Rome: A Return to Antiquity

Teaching methods

Lectures and special events/field trips

Assessment methods

To get the credits, students are required to submit a 10-page paper (approx. 4,000 words) at the end of each semester on one of the topics discussed during the course. The essay is assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Teaching tools

• PowerPoint presentations
• 'Virtuale' e-learning platform

Office hours

See the website of Angelo Maria Mangini