Unit information: Trans Italia: Culture, Nation and Identity in Italy Since 1990 in 2011/12

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Unit name Trans Italia: Culture, Nation and Identity in Italy Since 1990
Unit code ITAL30039
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Professor. Duncan
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None
Co-requisites

None
School/department Department of Italian
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Over the last twenty years the influx of migrants to Italy from all over the world has raised questions about Italy as a nation in the global economy, and about what it means to be Italian in a multicultural environment. These questions reflect the cosmopolitan nature of much contemporary culture and also act as reminders of largely forgotten aspects of Italy's past: its own history as a colonial power, and as a nation of emigrants. This unit looks at the development of a transnational or postcolonial culture in Italy through the close study of a range of cultural forms such as cinema, literature, and selected sites. In doing so it also considers the legislative, economic, and political context in which this recent migration to Italy has taken place.

Aims:

  • To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to final year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.
  • To facilitate students’ engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.
  • To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level I.
  • To equip students with the skills to undertake postgraduate study in a relevant field.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful students will:

  • be knowledgable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;
  • will have advanced skills in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
  • be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at an advanced level;
  • be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an advanced level of complexity;
  • be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including postgraduate study.

Teaching Information

Two seminar hours per week across one teaching block (22 contact hours).

Assessment Information

One of the following:

a) A written assignment of 3000 words and a two hour exam (50% each)

b) A written assignment of 3000 words (25%) and a three hour exam (75%)

c) One written assignment of 6000 words (or equivalent)

d) Two written assignments of 3000 words (50% each)

e) One oral presentation (25%) plus one written assignment of 1500 words (25%) plus one written assignment of 3000 words (50%)

Reading and References

Set texts

(to be purchased):

Igiaba Scego, La mia casa è dove sono (Rizzoli: 2010)

Amara Lakhous, Scontro di civiltà per un ascensore a Piazza Vittorio (E/O: 2006)

Preparatory reading:

Enzo Colombo, Le società multiculturali (Carocci 2002)

Alessandro Dal Lago, Non-persone: l’esclusione dei migranti in una società globale (Feltrinelli 2004)

Robert Young, Postcolonialism: a very short introduction (OUP 2003)

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