Investigation of topics in Italian cultural history from a multidisciplinary perspective.

In studying Italian colonialism and postcolonialism, what social-theoretical tools can we add to literary-critical and critical-theoretical ones? In our seminar we will examine Italian colonialism and its many legacies and effects through a set of themes around which clusters of scholarly questions (and works) have emerged, in combination with social-theoretical and comparative-historical resources. These will include: madamismo and bodies defined colonially; virility and combat; territory and settler colonialism, including spatial organization and control; representations through images and texts; crimes against humanity and genocide; points of view of the (ex-)colonized; and memory, monuments, and conflicts over colonial history. Our readings will range from Stoler and Said to Fanon, Memmi, and Fabian, as well as Barrera, Ertola, Del Boca, Melandri, Scego, and others to be decided.

Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Repeat Rules