NeoRealism and the New Realism
F06
Roberto de Lucca
The figure of the individual caught up in rapid social changes is variously represented in art from culture to culture, yet in Italy it has taken on a special status since the economic “boom” of the 50s and 60s that pulled Italy from poverty to riches. Historic (1949–61) and contemporary (2000–06) films are the raw material of the course. We will look at the universal aspects of the figure of the lone individual in society and compare them with what is specific to Italy. We will also ask what cinematic “realism” is and what caused it to be invented in Italy, and how neorealist masterpieces of the 50s influence Italian (and world) cinema today. Students will be asked to keep a journal where they record their experience when studying these films, comparing Italian culture to their own. Throughout the term, students will complete written and oral exercises, with emphasis placed on the cognitive goal of recognizing underlying cultural principles as well as on the further development of narrative, descriptive, analytical, and research skills. Conducted in Italian. Low-intermediate level....