ITST 141 A-Z - (AA) Italian Film HighlightsSemester Hours: 3
Periodically
A rotating series of courses investigating various aspects of Italian cinema. Topics include mafia cinema, race, gender, gothic and horror cinema, cinema and fascism, historical representations, migration in contemporary Italian cinema, and America as seen by Italian directors taught in English. All movies are in English or Italian with English subtitles.
Current Special Topics
ITST 141A - Italian Film Heroes and Villains
This course focuses on representations of positive and negative characters in Italian cinema from the early days of silent cinema to present time. Through the discussion of some of the most representative examples of cinematic “heroes and villains” from an array of genres, including historical epics, comedy Italian-style, horror, crime, and auteur cinema, the students will gain awareness of the development of modern Italian society and its shift in values throughout the last 100 years of cinema productions. Among the issues addressed in this course are Italy’s view of itself in relation to the rest of Europe, gender conflicts in popular cinema, the influence of American culture, and the impact of modernization on Italian society. Movies will be screened weekly with English subtitles.
ITST 141D - True Crime Cinema
Spanning more than a century, this course analyzes movies inspired by some of the most infamous crimes in Italian history. The films studied focus on a wide array of topics, ranging from the Sicilian mafia to the notorious criminal gangs in the north; from wide-ranging political plots and assassinations to cronaca nera/true crime news. By exploring films from important auteurs like Germi, Petri, and Antonioni, as well as examining popular and modern films, students will have the opportunity to discover contemporary Italian history while getting acquainted with the main stages of development of Italian cinema. All reading texts in English; all films presented with English subtitles.
ITST 141F - Italian Film Comedies
We will explore how Italian directors representing 50 years of cinema have used the genre of comedy to serious effect, that is, to comment on political, cultural, and social realities of contemporary Italy. Directors and topics can include satire and the commedia all’italiana of Pietro Germi (1960s), the feminist and regional comedies of Lina Wertmueller (1970s), Franco Brusati’s exploration of Italian guest workers in Switzerland (1973), Marco Ferreri’s attack on consumerism (1973), Gabriele Salvatores’ questioning of Italy’s post-war economic miracle (1991), Roberto Benigni’s Holocaust comedy (1997), and Luca Miniero’s road-trip film that explores separatist prejudice between north and south (2010). All work is done in English; films have subtitles in English.
Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Specific titles and course descriptions for special topics courses are available in the online class schedule.
View Course Offering(s):
Fall 2025
January 2026
Spring 2026
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