ITAL 353 - The Short Narrative in Italian Culture: Oral Tradition, Literature, and Cinema

Prerequisite, ITAL 201, or consent of instructor. This course examines the phenomenon of the short narrative in the Italian oral tradition, literature, and cinema. Storytelling has been a staple of Italian culture since the dawn of time, leading to a rich body of regional folk stories, works such as Boccaccio’s Decameron, extraordinary collections of novellas, short stories, and short films in modern and contemporary times. In addition to introducing students to the style and cultural context of a number of modern narrators, the texts - characterized by suddenness, brevity, and rhythm - serve as the basis for critical analysis, and oral and written practice in the language. To encourage linguistic creativity, students will also be invited to produce their own short stories. (Offered as needed.) 3 credits