Italian Studies 397L - ST- Regional Literature

Inspired by the programs in "Cultural Geography" pioneered by the Universities of California, Oregon and Washington, this course will examine the manner in which literature and other forms of cultural production reflect and in some cases influence the spaces and places in which they were produced. We will consider the works of authors such as Grazia Deledda, Alberto Moravia, Salvatore DiGiacomo, Natalia Ginzburg, Aldo Palazzeschi, Giorgio Bassani, and Giovanni Verga, as well as poets, songwriters, and film directors such as Eugenio Montale, Fabrizio DeAndre and Vittorio DeSica. As we study these works, we will consider the cultural contexts in which they were produced, and will give some consideration to regional dialects. This course will be taught in Italian, and is designed to develop and reinforce reading, writing, and speaking skills in Italian.