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Course Description

Summary

In this course, we will investigate films about life in Rome during two periods of drastic transformation: first, the early 1950s through the early 1960s, when Italy recovered from WWII and experienced an economic boom, and second, the mid-1990s to present, a time of increased immigration, tourism, gentrification, and precarious work. Students will explore a variety of approaches to the study of cinema and the city including analyses of urban film cultures and how films can provide archives of urban spaces and everyday practices. Readings include articles by geographers, film scholars, and historians. Some of the directors studied include Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Nanni Moretti, and Paolo Sorrentino. We will also conduct several Skype interviews with contemporary filmmakers and host a night of short films about Rome by young directors. The course will be conducted in English and all films have subtitles in English. Intermediate and advanced students of Italian will have the option to write papers in Italian and meet for a conversation hour.