116-467 Modern Italian Theatre

Note

Available as 116-367 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Two sequential second-year Italian subjects (33.3 credit points) (3rd year); admission to Italian Honours school (4th year).

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The subject will examine a selection of the most significant dramatic texts of modern Italian literature from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries. The subject will concentrate on a number of key text written by Goldoni, Pirandello and other twentieth century playwrights. Students will pay particular attention to the structural features of the plays studied, relating them, where appropriate, to current theoretical issues and to the social and ideological context of the plays. "Modern Italian Theatre" will examine the Italian dramatic tradition and how the writers studied relate to it. From this perspective, at least one feminist playwright will be analysed to see how the theatrical tradition is reappropriated in order to make statements about the position of women in society. Wherever possible students will watch videos of performances so as to gain some understanding of the relationship between dramatic performance and written text.

Assessment

Written work totalling not more than 5000 words (3rd year) / 6000 words (4th year).

Prescribed Texts

See Italian Studies Course Handbook for details.