Investigation of major topics, genres, and authors in Italian literature and culture of the 20th century.

The issues of “Equality and vulnerability” play a key role in the current legal-philosophical and political-philosophical debate in Italy as in North America. This interdisciplinary course will deal with these notions (with some emphasis on the specific vulnerability of disadvantaged groups such as “racial” minorities, immigrants, as well as LGBTQIA people), by discussing both texts of major Italian authors, useful to frame the subject, as well as contemporary controversies that impact Italian culture and identity. Our approach will be comparative, keeping in view the Italian case vis-à-vis the U.S. Among the authors to be read will be Giambattista Vico and Santi Romano. Among the controversies to be examined will be the Braibanti affaire, aspects of the debate on marriage equality, the case of Lautsi and others v. Italy.

Credit Restrictions

Students taking this course for 2 units do not write a final paper and may enroll in the course on a <satisfactory/unsatisfactory> basis.

Repeat Rules