Course syllabus

ITALIAN 232: Italian Fiction and Cinema (Texts in English)

SEMESTER 1, 2018

15 points

 
Course Convenor: 

Franco Manai - f.manai@auckland.ac.nz

 Teacher:

Franco Manai - f.manai@auckland.ac.nz

Course delivery format:

 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

Lectues Mo 12:00PM - 2:00PM Arts 1, Room 315

Tutorials We 1:00PM - 2:00PM Arts 1, Room 302

 Summary of Course Description:              

A study of Italian novels, short stories and their adaptation in feature films. Texts are in English.

This course does not count towards a major or minor in Italian. Students taking an Italian major or minor should take ITALIAN 204 instead.

All too often fidelity to an original literary text is used as a criterion for judging the value of its film adaptation. This course questions the value of fidelity as criterion by examining the process of transformation of some modern Italian literary texts into feature films. We will consider how adaptation allows a film to successfully present the otherness and distinctiveness of its original text, bearing in mind the different narrative functions and codes of novels and film. The intellectual and social milieus in which these literary works and films were produced will also be considered.

The texts to be examined are the latest film by director Michelangelo Antonioni, Al di là delle nuvole (Beyond the clouds), derived from a series of short stories he himself wrote in the 1980s; Paolo and Vittorio Taviani’s film Kaos, derived from short stories by early twentieth century playwright and novelist Luigi Pirandello; and Niccolò Ammaniti’s novel Io non ho paura (I am not scared), and its film adaptation by Gabriele Salvadores.

 Course outcomes:

A student who successfully completes this course will have the opportunity to:

• acquire knowledge of adaptation and theory of adaptation from fiction to film.They will learn to question the value of fidelity as a criterion for judging a movie. They will  learn to consider the original written story only as one of the many elements that constitute a feature film bearing in mind the different narrative functions and codes of novels and film. They will learn to consider also the intellectual and social milieus in which these literary works and films were produced 
• they will acquire skills in essay writing, critical thinking, academic literacy

 Assessment Summary:

Three essays of about 1500 words each: 30 % of the final mark each;

Tutorial Tasks: 10% of the final mark

Weekly Topics:

 Weeks 1-4 Antonioni’s short ‘sketches’ form Quel bowling sul Tevere (That Bowling on the Tiber) and Al di là delle nuvole (Beyond the Clouds)

Weeks 5-8 Pirandello’s Short Stories and Kaos by the Taviani Brothers

Weeks 9-12: Ammaniti’s Io non ho paura (I am not scared) and Salvadores’ Io non ho paura (I am not scared).

Prescribed Texts:

The literary text will be available on line except for the novel Io non ho paura (I am not scared) that can be purchased at the University bookstore. Films can be viewed in the AV Library.

 Recommended Texts:

Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.