Italian Drama and the Performance of a Nation
- Frank Pellicone
- College of Arts & Sciences
- First-Year Seminar Grant
Italian Drama and the Performance of a Nation How did political theorists, philosophers, artists, authors, filmmakers, and actors construct an Italian national identity? Through this course, we will trace the evolution of an Italian national identity shaped and reflected by Italian drama and film. We will pay attention to the contributions of individuals such as Machiavelli, Aretino, Bruno, Goldoni, Pirandello, Fellini, and Franca Rame and Dario Fo to discuss how artistic achievement and aesthetic considerations provided the backdrop for the performance of social constructs such as gender roles, class, and ethnicity toward the production of an Italian identity. When possible we will attend local theatrical performances and view screenings of relevant productions. We will read all works in English. No prior knowledge of Italian is expected.