ITL 313 - Italian Theatre

Course unit(s): 1
Meets GAR (students beginning prior to Fall 2024): Meets general academic requirements HU.
Meets Explore Core requirement (students beginning Fall 2024 and later): CE
Meets requirement: W
From the piazza to the opera house, from the puppets of Sicily to the Carnival masks of Venice, from the noble courts of the Renaissance to the sound stages of Italian State Television, the social life of Italy has been characterized by spectacle. In this course we will explore the history and variety of Italian theatre defined broadly to include public processions, court spectacles, erudite comedy, opera, modern drama, cinema, television, and more. We will delve deep into some of the most important texts of the Italian tradition by authors such as Machiavelli, Pirandello, and Pasolini, and learn much not only about Italian literature, culture, and politics, but also about the possibilities and the limits of the stage itself. We will pay special attention to the concept of spectacle and examine its many forms and functions in Italian life. This course is taught in English and no knowledge of Italian language is necessary.