Module Information

Module Identifier
IT20610
Module Title
Italian Cinema: Neorealism
Academic Year
2014/2015
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
(Normally) Eligibiliity for entry to Level 2 Italian.
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 11 x 1-hour lectures
Seminars / Tutorials 2 x 2-hour seminars
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 1 essay c. 2000 words or assignment/presentation  Continuous Assessment:  30%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   written examination  70%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   written examination  100%

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module students will

  • have gained an insight into the circumstances and events which led to the flourishing of Neorealism;
  • be capable of identifying and following the threads that link Neorealism to ideas muted in the early years of Fascism;
  • be aware of the themes Neorealism appropriated by studying examples from literature, the visual arts and cinema;
  • be aware of the main reasons and the implications for the demise of Neorealism;
  • be aware of the variety of idioms the culture of a country can assume;
  • be capable of researching and preparing a presentation on a given topic, to be delivered in a student seminar.

Brief description

Neorealism as a movement, if indeed it can be described as a movement, was very short-lived, yet associated with it are the names of some of the best known film directors, artists and writers of the fifties: from Rossellini and Visconti to Fellini, from Vittorini and Pasolini to Calvino. Despite running rapidly into the hostility of the Italian establishment its influence was profound and long-lasting both within Italy and abroad. After the long years of Fascist propaganda and mystification it distinguished itself for its keen sense of social responsibility, moral commitment and for its increasingly unwelcome determination to bring to the public's attention human, political and social problems.


Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5