Survey Ital Lit I

Catalog description

Between the late 13th and the mid-16th century in Italy there was a period of essential political, religious, and cultural change, during which we observe the deep process of secularization of Italian culture. The change of perspective determined a fundamental transformation of essential concepts for the contemporary society. Decisive cultural issues were thoroughly contemplated and discussed throughout the intellectual debates that characterized the Italian courts of the time. The course will give students an introduction to the literature from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance periods, and provide them with a theoretical framework with which to conduct a comprehensive discussion of the subject. The material covered will feature an interdisciplinary approach based on the study of cultural issues conveyed by some of the masterpieces also in painting, sculpture, music, architecture and, where feasible, their relationships with literature itself. By the end of the semester students will be able to take 400 level courses.