ITAL345

Types and Archetypes of Fascism in the Age of the Crisis of Liberal Democracy

Cross-listed with RMST345

Fascism parade (parata rischiarata)

This course aims at offering students with diverse backgrounds some foundational knowledge about the phenomenon of “Fascism” as, in successive incarnations, it arose and ran its course in the context of neo-Latin societes and cultures. Since these tragic events were centred in Italy, our primary focus will be the Italian peninsula, and we will digress from there as needed.

We discuss at length Neville and make references to Bosworth, Mack Smith, Martin Clark, Procacci, as well as to contemporary sociologists (Umberto Eco). We analyze works of theory, politics, fiction and memoirs from that age (by Marinetti, Moravia, Pirandello, Ungaretti, Carlo Levi); examine the philosophy (Giovanni Gentile), architecture and fine arts of Mussolini’s regime, from the EUR to Mario Sironi, or during it (Giorgio Morandi); and watch clips from films belonging to the genres of telefoni bianchi comedy (Camerini’s Mr. Max), war propaganda (Balbo’s transatlantic flights, Rossellini’s The White Ship), as well as historical “peplum” kolossals (Gallone’s Scipio the African).

The last 3 weeks in the course are devoted to the study of F’s legacy after 1945.

Learning Outcomes:

The goal of this Italy-based extended case study is to provide students with the analytical tools indispensable not only to condemn, in facile, dogmatic (and thus ultimately misplaced) self-assurance, the F(s) of yesteryear, but, more importantly, to condemn and — so it is hoped — oppose effectively the many forms of F facing us today.

Language of instruction: English

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Note: Credit will be granted for only one of ITST 345 or ITAL 345 or RMST 345