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UGS 303 Italian Cinema

Prof. Douglas Biow, Instructor Superior Oil Company-Linward Shivers Centennial Professor Director, Center for European Studies Email: [email protected] Tel: (512) 471-7267 (office) Office: HRH 2.110B Office hours: T and Th: 3 to 4pm and by appointment

Lectures: TTh 5-6:15 in Parlin 201 Friday Discussion Sessions (required attendance): Fridays 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6 (you are assigned automatically to one of these sessions) Film viewings: You will view the films on your own, and you will be quizzed on them in class. You can access them: from UTBox (some of them), the Fine Arts Library (all of them), or online (some of them) from Kanopy.

Course Description This course will consist of a broad and varied sampling of classic Italian films from WWII to the present. We will consider the works that typify major directors and major trends through five decades of filmmaking. I will trace a certain stylistic and thematic development from neorealism to postmodernism, pointing out both the continuity of the tradition and exceptions to it, in an attempt to define the art of Italian film. In the process, we will become more aware how we, as viewers, respond to films in socially and culturally determined ways. Classes will include visual analysis of films. Students must view films prior to the class discussion of them.

Readings Bondanella, Peter. Selections from Italian Cinema (posted on Canvas) Other material on Canvas (Antonioni, Fellini, Bazin, etc.)

Purchases Please purchase an i-clicker by the second class

Assignments and Grading

There will be 5 papers. No exams. BUT: Quizzes every week. Quizzes will be held at the beginning of class and may not be made up. Come on time!

1. This is a writing flag class. There will be 5 papers that cover the 4 units of the class (see syllabus). The 5 papers will get incrementally longer as the semester progresses. Each paper should have a separate title page with your name and email address on it. Neither the title nor your name 2 should appear at the top of the first page of the paper proper. The papers should be double-spaced, with 1” margins and 12 pt Times type.

The first paper will be 2 pages, the second and third 2-3 pages, the fourth 3-4 pages, and the last 4-5 pages. Students will be required to rewrite the first paper. The final two papers must engage material from one of the earlier units: in the fourth section, for instance, students will probably want to compare one of the films to the Bicycle Thief, discussed in unit 1, whereas in the final paper they may wish to compare one of the films to late modernist works (discussed in unit 2) or the films of Pasolini (discussed in unit 3). The final paper must also engage two scholarly works (I will provide bibliography), but not the Bondanella textbook.

2. There will be 14 short (one paragraph) thought pieces in which students respond on a weekly basis to a film viewed that week in light of the “sequence analysis worksheet” (attached). You will not be penalized for simple grammatical mistakes or spelling errors in these “thought pieces.” But they are expected to be thoughtful. You will hand these in on every Thursday. Please include your TAs name on all thought pieces.

3. There will be 16 short in-class quizzes (5 minutes each) on the films viewed.

4. There will be structured peer edits of papers in the break-out sections as well as oral presentations in the break-out sections (see attachment on oral presentations).

5. Rather than assigning a book on how to write college-level papers, I will be using (as I have over the past years) the “pamphlets” Wayne Rebhorn (English Dept.) put together; I think they have the advantage of being shorter, extremely clear, and of no cost to the student. (I’ve attached them).

GRADING: 60% - Essays (sliding scale as the course unfolds for 5 papers: 7%, 8%, 10%, 15%, 20%) 20% - 16 Quizzes and 14 thought pieces. There is no mid-term or final exam. 20% - Class Participation, Oral Presentations on Friday sessions, and Friday peer-review edits. Class Participation includes attendance at the September 18th Lecture, required of all signature students.

More than 3 absences will automatically lower your final grade. (NOTE: Absences for both lectures and Friday discussion groups count!) For each additional absence your final grade will be lowered by 1/3 (a B becomes a B-, etc.).

By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

Cell phones must be put away during class and computers may be used only for note-taking or for class activities. Students who use gizmos for non-class related activities will be marked absent and asked to leave for the remainder of that class.

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations 3 for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office off the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641. See also http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/

UT Honor Code: “The core values of the University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the University is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.”

This course fulfills three hours of the component area option of the university core curriculum and addresses three of the core objectives established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: comm unication skills, critical thinking skills, and one additional objective (teamwork, personal responsibility, social responsibility, or empirical and quantitative skills).

Class Work You are required to attend class and actively participate in discussions about the reading material. The material assigned for each class corresponds to the date. Make sure you view the films at the assigned screenings and do the reading before class (TAKE NOTES on the films; you are expected to have something to say about them). You will occasionally have short in-class “thought pieces” to write, just to get you formulating ideas for discussion and to make sure you are reading the material with some thought.

Writing Your writing matters. It is not enough to have interesting thoughts. You must express those thoughts in an intelligible, structured, and eloquent prose. Your writing must be your own work. If you plagiarize egregiously on a paper, you will flunk the entire work for that semester. Simple rule of thumb: “If you use words or ideas that are not your own you must cite your sources. Otherwise you will be guilty of plagiarism.” If you have any questions as to what constitutes plagiarism, consult the definition in Hacker, A Pocket Manual of Style (I think we all know what it means, however). Consult as well the UT site on plagiarism: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/plagiarism If you are concerned about what it means to write a college paper, you can find sound advice in Trimble, Writing with Style (you can easily purchase a second-hand copy of this book). Rhetoric & Composition recommends SF Express by Ruszkiewicz (again, you can easily find a second-hand copy). I will also be putting on Blackboard copies of some sound suggestions written by a colleague of mine in the English Department, Professor Wayne A. Rebhorn, who is a first-rate scholar, teacher, writer, and editor. I hope you will find all his suggestions to be helpful. If you follow them, you are bound to do a good job on your papers.

University Writing Resources: Undergraduate Writing Center: http://www.uwc.utexas.edu/ (see handouts: http://projects.uwc.utexas.edu/handouts/) From their website: “The Undergraduate Writing Center (UWC) offers free, individualized, expert help with writing for any UT undergraduate, by appointment or on a drop-in basis. The writer works with a trained consultant to define goals for the session, for example: • deciding on a topic • clarifying and organizing ideas • researching, drafting, and revising • improving grammar, punctuation, and usage 4

• citing sources properly We encourage students to develop strategies to improve their writing and become more confident writers”

Assessing Student Writing

90-100 -- A paper excellent in overall quality 1.) has a clearly stated thesis or aim of exceptional interest. 2.) is strikingly well-organized to present that thesis or aim. 3. shows that the student has thought carefully about the films and developed original and full responses to the films 4.) uses a rich and appropriate vocabulary, without being wordy or repetitive. 5.) uses examples and evidence persuasively in support of analysis, with appropriate citation. 6.) employs a variety of sentence structures demonstrating mastery of tone and rhythm. 7.) contains no or few small errors, which do not significantly impede the reader's progres 8.) is written in a strikingly clear, natural, and idiomatic voice appropriate to the assignment.

80-90 -- A paper good or very good in overall quality 1.) has a clearly stated thesis or aim. 2.) is adequately organized, with clear topic sentences, good paragraph flow, and well- structured paragraphs, to present that thesis or aim. 3.) shows that the student has thought about the films carefully, although responses may be inconsistently developed and may not be original 4.) uses a vocabulary which is appropriate but may be limited in range or repetitive. 5.) uses examples and evidence persuasively to support analysis. 6.) employs a variety of appropriate sentence structures, all syntactically correct. 7.) mechanical errors may be noticeable but do not impede the reader's comprehension of the writer's idea 8.) has an authorial voice appropriate to the assignment.

70-80 -- A paper fair in overall quality 1.) includes a thesis of statement or aim. 2.) is for the most part logically organized, with clear topic sentences and comprehensible paragraph flow and internal organization. 3.) shows that the student has viewed and thought about the films, although comprehension may be faulty, arguments undeveloped 4.) has a narrow or inexact vocabulary, that does not interfere with comprehension. 5.) uses examples and evidence, but these do not always support analysis persuasively 6.) lacks variety in sentence structure, although sentences are mostly syntactically correct. 7.) has several mechanical errors, but these do not interfere with comprehension. 8.) has an uneven authorial voice: sometimes appropriate, but elsewhere colloquial, stilted, awkwardly abstract, or oratorical.

60-70 -- An unacceptable paper 1.) does not successfully state a thesis or aim. 2.) is poorly organized at both overall and paragraph levels 3.) shows that the student has thought about the films only superficially, or perhaps not at all. 4.) has an inexact vocabulary that interferes with comprehension. 5.) uses no examples and evidence, or uses them in a confused way. 5

6.) has basic errors in sentence structure, such as subject/verb agreement, fragments. 7.) has mechanical errors such as punctuation that interfere with comprehension. 8.) has an uneven authorial voice that interferes with the presentation of material.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE VIDEOS/DVDs to VIEW

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Kanopy

Dates of coverage vary. (Kanopy) Beginning June 4, 2015, the UT Libraries is providing access to a new online video streaming service from Kanopy. This is a one year trial. This streaming service provides access to 26,000 titles covering various educational topics and feature films for some 800 producers including Criterion, Documentary Educational Resources, New Day Films, Media Education, California Newsreel, PBS and others.

FILMS:

Open City On Kanopy Paisan On UTBox https://utexas.box.com/s/8vsiolayekx8eyoa68iuv61zzk7ecoh4 Bicycle Thief On UTBox https://utexas.box.com/s/ylyzma47g3top4oiwmw6ooqohy5zdety La Strada On Kanopy La dolce vita On UTBox https://utexas.box.com/s/yss62alefksk88mbrpqhfmgqxbl3u62v Bellissima On UTBox https://utexas.box.com/s/0pm90p66bbishtvp3buoybanrbm9joal Red Desert On Kanopy Blow-Up On UTBox https://utexas.box.com/s/5fshkcuq04a1l7y18x18zg1r1e2dsjtf Mamma Roma On Kanopy The Conformist On UTBox (not yet uploaded) We All Loved Each Other So Much On UTBox https://utexas.box.com/s/cdpe55g0k74yektoamxslk31xwlvnkk4 Icicle Thief On UTBox (not yet uploaded) Stolen Children On UTBox https://utexas.box.com/s/cbqfwpe3broi1zja1n1rwc1r3erzr2uq Nuovo Cinema Paradiso if you go back and see it separately on your own, NOT the long version On UTBox (not yet uploaded) Life is Beautiful On UTBox https://utexas.box.com/s/04z9ll1embj5u0kdeh9olj1as4ne9gj4 The Great Beauty On Kanopy

Schedule for Lectures

Aug. 27 Introduction to course. History of Italian Cinema until WWII

UNIT ONE: NEOREALISM

Sept. 1 Discussion: Open City (Rossellini) (Read Bondanella, 1-53; Giannetti on Blackboard) Sept. 3 Review of Italian Political History, Rossellini. (Read Bondanella, 1-53) FIRST PAPER DUE

Sept. 8 Discussion: Paisan, episodes 1-3 (Rossellini) (Read Bondanella, 61-81, 217-221) Sept. 10 Discussion: Paisan, episodes 4-6

Sept. 15 Discussion: Bicycle Thief (De Sica) (Read Bondanella, 40-45, 82-93, 283-285; Zavattini and Bazin on Blackboard)

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Sept. 17 Classical Neorealism (Bondanella, 61-97)

UNIT TWO: THE GREAT AUTEURS/METACINEMA

Sept. 22 Discussion: La Strada (Fellini) (Read Bondanella, 137-54; Fellini on Blackboard) SECOND PAPER DUE Sept. 24 Federico Fellini: Major Issues, Ideas, Themes, Images, Types

Sept. 29 Discussion: La dolce vita (Fellini) (Read Bondanella, 285-305) Oct. 1 Discussion: La dolce vita

Oct. 6 Discussion: Bellissima (Visconti) (Read Bondanella, 53-58, 121-25, 154-56, 259-68) Oct. 8 Douglas Biow and Jason A. Goldstein: Visconti, Impressionism, and Photography

Oct. 13 Guest Lecture, Ann C. Johns: Modern Art at the Blanton Oct 15 Visit to BLANTON: Art History Grad Students leading the tours Oct 16 Visit to BLANTON: Art History Grad Students leading the tours (during reguar session hours)

Oct. 20 Discussion: Red Desert (Antonioni) (Read the Antonioni on Blackboard.) Oct. 22 break

UNIT THREE: MISERABILISM, RESISTANCE, and FASCISM REVISITED

Oct. 27 Discussion, Blow-Up (Read Bondanella, 101-102, 132-37, 268-83) THIRD PAPER DUE Oct. 29 Pasolini and the Poetics of Juxtaposition (Read Pasolini, 231-37, 416-30)

Nov. 3 Discussion: The Conformist (Bertolucci) (Read Bondanella, 430-52 Nov. 5 A break: Commedia all’Italiana (clips) (Read Bondanella, 180-216)

Nov. 10 Discussion: We All Loved Each Other So Much (Scola) (Read Bondanella, 205-11, 498-501) Nov. 12 Modernism/Postmodernism (and some clips) (Read Collins in packet—and peruse, for those interested in heady theory, the Jameson). Douglas Biow and Ann Johns

UNIT FOUR: NEOREALISM REVISITED: POSTMODERNISM AND NOSTALGIA

Nov. 17 Discussion: Icicle Thief (Nichetti) (Read Bondanella, 526-28) FOURTH PAPER DUE Nov. 19 Discussion: Stolen Children (Amelio) (Read Bondanella, 546-48)

Nov. 24 Discussion: Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (Tornatore) Nov. 26 THANKSGIVING

Dec. 1 Life is Beautiful (Benigni) (Read Bondanella, 533-38) Dec. 3 The Great Beauty (Sorrentino) 8

FINAL PAPER DUE

ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITY POLICY INFORMATION:

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Students with Disabilities: You will need to provide documentation to the Dean of Student’s Office so the most appropriate accommodations can be determined. Specialized services are available on campus through Services for Students with Disabilities (SSB 4.104, 471-­‐6259). Any student who requires special accommodations must obtain a letter that documents the disability from the Services for Students with Disabilities area of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (471-­‐ 6259 voice or 471-­‐4641 TTY for users who are deaf or hard of hearing). Present the letter to the professor at the beginning of the semester so that needed accommodations can be discussed. The student should remind the professor of any testing accommodations no later than five business days before an exam. For more information, visithttp://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/.

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Student Judicial Services web site at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/ .

Use of E-­‐mail for Official Correspondence to Students: All students should be familiar with the University’s official e-­‐mail student notification policy. It is the student’s responsibility to keep the University informed as to changes in his or her e- ­‐mail address. Students are expected to check e-­‐mail on a frequent and regular basis in order to stay current with University-­‐related communications, recognizing that certain communications may be time-­‐critical. The complete text of this policy and instructions for updating your e-­‐mail address are available at http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.html .

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE “FLAGS” TIED TO THIS COURSE:

Global Cultures

This course carries the Global Cultures flag. Global Cultures courses are designed to increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the United States. You should therefore expect a 9 substantial portion of your grade to come from assignments covering the practices, beliefs, and histories of at least one non-U.S. cultural group, past or present.

Writing

This course carries the Writing Flag. Writing Flag courses are designed to give students experience with writing in an academic discipline. In this class, you can expect to write regularly during the semester, complete substantial writing projects, and receive feedback from your instructor to help you improve your writing. You will also have the opportunity to revise one or more assignments, and you may be asked to read and discuss your peers’ work. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from your written work. Writing Flag classes meet the Core Communications objectives of Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility, established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.