116-467 Modern Italian Theatre

Formerly available as 116-077/367. Students who have completed 116-077 or 116-367 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Completion of 37.5 points at either post-beginners or post-VCE sequence for third year, admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year honours in Italian for fourth year. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed 37.5 points of European studies at second/third year, see Prerequisites.

This subject will examine a selection of the most significant dramatic texts of modern Italian literature from the 18th to the 20th centuries. The subject will concentrate on a number of key texts written by Goldoni, Pirandello, Fo and Rame. Students will be asked to pay particular attention to the structural features of the plays studied, relating them, where appropriate, to current theoretical concerns and to the social and ideological context of the plays. In particular, the subject will examine the work of Dario Fo and Franca Rame in the context of the politicisation of the theatrical tradition. Students should have acquired, by the end of the subject, a knowledge of some of the landmarks in modern Italian theatre; and have developed an awareness of the critical dimensions of analysing the theatrical text and its relationship to performance.

• be capable of critical thinking and analysis through required and recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by assessing the strength of arguments;

• gain an understanding of social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/openness to the world through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and new aspects of Italian culture, and by formulating arguments;

• written communication through essay and assignment preparation and writing.

A 15-minute classpaper 30% (due during semester), an essay of 1500 words for 3rd year students and 2000 words for 4th year students 35% (due mid-semester), a second essay of 1500 words for 3rd year students and 2000 words for 4th year students 35% (due at the end of semester).

• C Goldoni, La bottega del caffè. Einaudi.
• C Goldoni, La locandiera. Einaudi.
• L Pirandello, Three Plays. Manchester University Press.
• D Fo, Morte accidentale di un anarchico. Manchester University Press.
• D Fo & F Rame, Venticinque monologhi per una donna. Einaudi.