Italian Orientalism(s)

Catalog description

The focus of the seminar is to investigate the concept of “orientalism” in the Italian and Mediterranean context, an urgent question because Italy is at the center of recent crisis of migration, emigration and immigration. In a reading of texts that are theoretical, historical and literary, we will explore the complexities of national identity, structures of exclusion and racism, and as well the subtending rhetoric that has made Italy into a complex formation. We will analyze complexities of the concept of “orientalism” in the context of the Mediterranean generally and Italy specifically. The course is also open to graduate students, who will fulfill requirements by writing a final research paper. Undergraduates will write two papers: the first at mid semester, the second at the end.