ITALIAN 204/232/336 – Semester 2, 2007
ITALIAN FICTION AND CINEMA
Course description
All too often fidelity to an original literary text is used as a criterion for judging the value of its film adaptation. This course questions the value of fidelity as criterion by examining the process of transformation of some modern Italian literary texts into feature films. We will consider how adaptation allows a film to successfully present the otherness and distinctiveness of its original text bearing in mind the different narrative functions and codes of novels and film. The intellectual and social milieus in which these literary works and films were produced will also be considered. The texts to be examined are the latest film by director Michelangelo Antonioni, Al di là delle nuvole (Beyond the clouds), derived from a series of short stories he himself wrote in the 1980’s; Paolo and Vittorio Taviani’s film Kaos derived from short stories by early 20th century playwright and novelist Luigi Pirandello; and Niccolò Ammaniti’s novel Io non ho paura (I am not scared), and its film adaptation by Gabriele Salvadores
The literary text will be available in photocopied form except for the novel Io non ho paura (I am not scared). The Italian version of the novel is available from the SELL Department Office and the English version from the University Bookshop. Films can be viewed in the AV Library.
Assessment: Three essays (essays one and two: 30 % each; essay three: 40%)
First essay due August 15
Second essay due September 26
Third essay due October 24
Programme
Weeks 1-4 Antonioni’s short ‘sketches’ form Quel bowling sul Tevere (That Bowling on the Tiber) and Al di là della nuvole (Beyond the Clouds)
Weeks 5-8 Pirandello’s Short Stories and Kaos by the Taviani Brothers
Weeks 9-12: Ammaniti’s Io non ho paura (I am not scared) and Salvadores’ Io non ho paura (I am not scared).
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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