University of Tennessee – Spring 2020 Cinema Studies 422/ /Italian 422 Mafia and Terrorism in Italian Cinema Course Syllabus COURSE SECTION: 23216 – 27223 COURSE CREDIT HOURS: 3 Time and Location: T 11:10-12:25; TH 11:10-1:55 Hodges Lib. 252 Instructor: Flavia Brizio-Skov Phone: (865) 974-2311 Mailbox/Main Office: MFLL - 701 McClung Tower E-mail: [email protected] Office: 614 McClung Tower Office hours: Tuesday 12:30 till 3:30 or by appointment Prerequisite: none Required Texts: textbook packet ON CANVAS, PLEASE, PRINT IT. All the films are subtitled in English and streamed. Course description: This course focuses on the Italian films that portrayed Mafia and Terrorism during the Lead Years (1968-88). We will examine the way in which films, directors and scriptwriters dealt with these events, trying to shed light on one of the most complicated and corrupted periods of the political life of the Italian Republic. Because many of these films derive their style and codes from cinematic models of previous eras, we will also study the development of the national filmic industry. Course requirements: Consistent and careful preparation of assigned work is especially important in order to participate in class discussion. As general guidelines, students taking courses within the College of Arts and Science are 2 generally expected to spend a minimum of two hours preparing for each hour spent in class. What follows here below is a brief overview of the various components of the course and of the instructor’s expectations with regard to your participation. Students will be asked to employ a range of critical thinking and planning skills in completing assigned reading outside of class, in preparation for class discussions, oral presentations, film viewings. Students will work towards proficiency in articulating a clear and compelling line of reasoning in both written and spoken forms, analyzing filmic texts, constructing arguments, and evaluating the validity of their thesis. Language Disclaimer: Although the class will be conducted in English, Italian Majors and Minors are required to watch some films in Italian and have the option of choosing to write the final paper in Italian. Some of the material (films) might be considered sexually explicit or too violent by some students, you can discuss this problem with the instructor and you may watch a different film. Course objectives: At the end of the course, successful students should be able to: Describe and compare social aspects of your own culture and foreign culture. Read, understand and discuss critically cinematic texts and scholarly articles. Attain a deeper understanding and appreciation of a foreign culture through a variety of rich and diverse cultural texts. Increase your ability to think critically and creatively, reason logically, and express one’s thoughts orally and in writing with clarity and precision through thoughtful analyses of individual texts that display various aesthetic and ideological approaches. Learn how to write analyses in which you compare two or more texts in terms of structure, characterization, and themes. Interpret and analyze a variety of historical and social sources, and be able to draw your own interpretation through careful analysis of historical and social changes. Be capable of integrating knowledge from diverse sources. Class participation and recommendation for student success: Class participation is understood to include regular attendance, active participation in class discussions, timely completion of all assignments, and thorough preparation for each class session. Course Outcomes: successful students will: Demonstrate through oral presentations, and other class assignments a reasonable knowledge of the ways of thinking and the behavioral and cultural practices of Italy. Identify and analyze cultural traits and concepts relevant to the country and society in question. Recognize and distinguish different kinds of texts and arguments. Be able to use writing to reflect on their learning. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate historical discourse, and to develop conclusions about the past and the processes that create change over time. Engage in critical thinking and analysis regarding various approaches and ideologies. 3 Disability Statement: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a documented disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 2227 Dunford Hall (telephone/TTY 865-974- 6087; e-mail [email protected]) by August 25. This will ensure that you are properly registered for services. Dean of Students Please refer to the Dean of Students’ website http://dos.utk.edu and Student Handbook for any questions concerning your right as a student. VOLUNTEER CORE COURSE At the end of this course, you will be knowledgeable of cultures other than your own, and you will be able to demonstrate intercultural communication concepts. Classroom behavior expectations Students are expected to assist and maintain a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Disruptive behavior is prohibited. Examples are: the use of cellular phones and beepers, eating and drinking, excessive tardiness, making offensive remarks, reading newspapers during class, sleeping, overt inattentiveness, and the use of computers when it is not related with class material. For more information, please consult Student Handbook 2012-2013 http://dos.utk.edu/files/Hilltopics%202012.pdf Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a very serious offense that can result in failure of the class or even dismissal from the university. See http://www.lib.utk.edu/instruction/plagiarism/honor.html for a discussion of the University’s policy on plagiarism and academic honesty. Specific examples of plagiarism are: *copying without proper documentation (quotation marks and a citation) written or spoken words. *summarizing ideas from another source and passing them off as your own. *borrowing facts, statistics, graphs, pictorial representations, or phrases without acknowledging the source. *collaborating on a graded assignment without the instructor’s approval or having someone else write a paper for you. Course information and requirements Course Grade: Your final grade will be determined based on the following components. Course Requirement and Evaluations: Attendance/Participation 10% Final Paper 30% Group Presentations (2) 30% Exams (2) 30% GRADING SCALE A 94-100% B 84-86.9% C 74-76.9% D 64-66.9% A- 90-93.9% B- 80-83.9% C- 70-73.9% D- 60-63.9% B+ 87-89.9% C+ 77-79.9% D+ 67-69.9% F 0-59.9% Participation: Your active participation in class is imperative. Rather than through lectures, the course will be conducted through discussions, making the input and questions of every student crucial. It is for this reason that attendance and participation account for such a significant portion of your final grade, and it is for this reason that there might be some in-class quizzes to ensure that you keep up with the readings. In order to take an active part in the class discussion, it is essential that you come to class prepared, having read the material and having done the assignments. The instructor will carefully record your participation for each day. You will receive a participation grade of: 4 Level of participation and preparation Grade Excellent participation; very well prepared; shows courtesy toward other students and to A professor; thoroughly engages in course material and interacts with others’ opinions Good participation; well prepared; courteous; engages in course material and interacts B with others’ opinions Average participation; adequate preparation; interjects but does not interact C Little participation; inadequate preparation; interrupts discussion; tangential interaction D Present in class; minimal participation; unprepared F Present in class; no participation; unprepared; shows no respect for others; disrupts 0 points discussion; reads or writes text messages Class attendance: Attendance is required and mandatory; you are allowed 3 unexcused absences. Beginning with the 4th absence, your final course grade will drop one-half percentage point for each absence. If a regularly scheduled exam is missed due to an authorized university activity, you will be given an opportunity to make up the exam, provided that an official written excuse from a coach or other university official is presented to the instructor within 10 days of the absence. Make-Up Exams: Missing an exam and asking to take a make-up exam are strongly discouraged and will only be permitted in very limited circumstances. The following policy from the UT Student Handbook will be followed in this class: “The University's policy on class attendance is clear and straightforward: Students are expected to attend classes to take exams on schedule except under extraordinary circumstances.” The “extraordinary circumstances” listed in the Student Handbook which will allow a missed exam to be made up are “serious illness or family emergencies.” “Serious illnesses” are limited to “those involving hospitalization, or catastrophic accidents or illness.” In all other situations, including minor illness, you are expected to be present to take exams on the dates they are given in class. If you are absent from class, you are responsible for making arrangements in order to have your work handed in on the due date, and for informing yourself about the material covered in class during the period of your absence. Make-ups are not permitted without documented excuse. If you are absent for a regularly scheduled exam because