Modern Italian Culture

Catalog description

This language and culture course provides the tools to “travel” to the rich world of early modern Italy and is designed to help students gain familiarity with Italian figures, art objects, and literary works while developing and improving communication skills. The course emphasizes interpretation and intercultural communication, showcasing a sampling of culturally significant works. As we focus on the cultures of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Italy and their enduring influence on contemporary society, we examine the ways in which power and gender are reflected in cultural artifacts, fostering critical thinking and intercultural awareness that contribute to global citizenship. We study a variety of texts, including poetry, painting, sculpture, theater, political treatises, and intimate letters exchanged between friends and family. At the center of our inquiry are two issues central to early modern Italy: the self-fashioning of the subject and structures and practices of power. Themes including patronage and propaganda, the family, love, marriage, and gender roles provide a frame for class discussion.