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ITALIAN AMERICA LITERATURE AND FILM
FALL 2007

Code 3085, Section WZ9
WED 9.25 - 12.05
 

Instructor: Fabio Girelli-Carasi, Professor
Office: B 4304
fgc-courses@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Office Hours Wed. 1.00 - 3.00 and by appointment
 


Bulletin Description:
Exploration of the possibilities of storytelling in the genres of Italian American literature and film. The focus of discussion is character development, structure, and point of view, as well as the conflict between stereotype and anti-stereotype. 

Discussion:
Who tells the story? What images fit with or defy the audience's expectations? What are the constants of the Italian-American discourse and how do they relate respectively to the Italian and the American dominant cultures? How do the characters contribute to the creation of role models for gender, race, class and ethnicity in the Italian American culture and beyond? We will analyze salient texts and films to identify the major themes of conflict and morality in the narrative.

Core Goals:
To develop the ability to think critically and creatively, to reason logically, to reason quantitatively, and to express one's thoughts orally and in writing with clarity and precision. (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 21)

To understand the necessity for tolerance and to appreciate individual and social diversity, as well as differences of race, class, and gender. (19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31)

To be capable of integrating knowledge from diverse sources (28)

Core Objectives:
1. Critical thinking. (9)
2. Effective writing: students will write thoughtful analysis of individual works. They will write analyses in which they compare two or more works in terms of structure, characterization, themes, and language.  (11)
3. Respect for diversity in areas such as gender, race, class, and ethnicity. (22)
4. Students will be able to demonstrate integrating knowledge from diverse sources. (28)

Outcomes:
1. Students can recognize and distinguish different kinds of arguments.
2. Students will be able to use writing to reflect on their learning and understand difficult material.
3. Students will discuss controversial subjects regarding such issues as race, gender, sexual orientation, class and ethnicity that involve strongly held beliefs and demonstrate respectful listening, lack or acrimony, and openness.
4. Given a specific issue, students will locate three discipline-appropriate sources support his/her position on an issue.
 

TEXTBOOKS
The following volumes are available from Shakespeare Bookstore on Hillel Place. They may also be bought online .
  • Son of Italy (D'Angelo)
    •
    • The Godfather (Puzo)
  •  Christ in Concrete (Di Donato)
     
    •

    The Volume Old Italian Neighborhood Values, by De Felice, may be ordered online at
    http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~12437.aspx

    Additional materials will be made available as photocopies for a fee (write a check to Bordighera Press):

    • Anthony Tamburri: To Hyphenate or Not to Hyphenate
    • Various Authors: A selection of short stories and first-person accounts.
       

    Films can be viewed at the library or/and at CLIC (Computer Language Instruction Center) in B4316
  • The Godfather I (Coppola, 1972)
  • A Night at the Opera (Wood, 1935)
  • L'emigrante (Festa Campanile, 1973)
  • True Love (Savoca, 1989)
  • Kiss me Guido (Vitale, 1997)
  • Marty (Mann, 1955)
    •

     

    COURSE WEB ADDRESSES http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/modlang/carasi/courses/courses.html

    BLOG http://core10-bc.blogspot.com/

     

    GETTING IN TOUCH

    · If you need to communicate with me, the ONLY guaranteed way to connect is to send an EMAIL message. The course EMAIL ADDRESS IS:
    fgc-courses@brooklyn.cuny.edu

    Assignments
    •  A two to three page writing assignment every week due the day of class.
    • Comments to be posted to the blog

    Quizzes

    Every meeting will open with a brief 5-minute quiz based on assigned  reading and blog material

    Attendance

    Required. Every absence unless justified by proper documentation will count negatively toward final grade.

    Lateness

    Lateness is disruptive and disrespectful. Lateness will counted as absence, unless you can prove there were extenuating circumstances. Chronic lateness will not be tolerated: you will be excluded from class activities.

    Participation

    I will use specific rubrics to assess meaningful participation.
    CELLULAR PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF · If you make or take a phone call, you will be asked to leave the room and WILL NOT BE ALLOWED BACK IN.



    TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

    Portions of this course will require use of the Web and Internet tools (email etc.)
    Print out the handouts and materials sent by email or posted on the Web/Blog, as instructed

    The golden rules of email correspondence
     

    · Check your email daily.

    · You MUST have a web accessible email account. You must have an email address that will allow me to identify the sender instantly without having to rack my brain. If you don't have a professional-looking email address, it's time to get one. Recommended format:
    Jaime.Williams.000@yahoo.com  Do not run your first and last name together. Space them with either a period or a hyphen. Same for the digits at the end of the string.

    I will ignore messages whose author I cannot identify from the email address.

    · Email is a FORMAL means of communication (at least when you correspond with your professors or employers, etc.). Avoid abbreviations, slang and cuteness. Let's treat each other with respect. Use capital letters, punctuation, greetings and salutations as in a professional message.
     

    · The use of magic words (please, thank you) and politeness in general is strongly encouraged.
     

    · Sign every message at the bottom. Why? Because it is GOOD MANNERS and if it is a long message, the reader doesn't have to scroll up to check who the sender is (even profs suffer from ADD, sometimes).
     

    · You will send your assignments by email. In the SUBJECT you will enter the exact words I will give you. Also, if the homework is to be sent as an ATTACHMENT, you will use the filename I will give you. This allows me to route your messages to the appropriates folders avoiding misplacing or erasing them.

    · Exchange phone numbers or email addresses with your classmates. Please do not write to let me know that you were not in class (I already know) or will miss class; to ask me to summarize what we did or will do in class; or what the assignment is/was, UNLESS YOU HAVE SERIOUS REASONS. Email/call a classmate instead.
     

     

    Plagiarism

    Policy on academic integrity Academic dishonesty of any type, including cheating and plagiarism, is unacceptable at Brooklyn College. Cheating is any misrepresentation in academic work. Plagiarism is the representation of another person's work, words, or ideas as your own. Students should consult the Brooklyn College Student Handbook for a fuller, more specific discussion of related academic integrity standards. Faculty members are encouraged to discuss with students the application of these standards to work in each course. Academic dishonesty is punishable by failure of the "test, examination, term paper, or other assignment on which cheating occurred" (Faculty Council, May 18, 1954). In addition, disciplinary proceedings in cases of academic dishonesty may result in penalties of admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, complaint to civil authorities, or ejection. (Adopted by Policy Council, May 8, 1991.)

     

    ASSESSMENT

    Quizzes  10%
    Expect a mini-quiz every class period to check that you did the reading and are following the discussion in class.

    Assignments 50%
  • I will assign a total of 14 writing exercises of approximately 2 pages each (on the average one a week.)
  •  
  • Assignments will be announced in class or by email.
  • All assignments will be collected.
  • Each piece of homework MUST bear the due date. Re-writings must be clearly indicated.
  • Late assignments will receive NO CREDIT.

    • · CREDIT TO HOMEWORK WILL BE GRANTED OR DENIED BASED ON QUALITY OF CONTENT, ACCURACY, EFFORT AND NEATNESS

    PORTFOLIO

    Print out all your work and keep it in folder. YOU WILL BE ASKED TO TURN IT IN AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER FOR RE-EVALUATION.

     

    Participation in class discussion 15%

    · Active participation is required and expected. Come to class prepared to present and discuss your point of view or analysis.

    · Contribution to "Reviews" and "Linguistics"

    Final project: essay writing in class. I will select for each one a different topic based on your best work.
    Final essay 25%
    Essay writing in class. I will assign a different topic to each student based on the best sample of work submitted.



    - WEDNESDAY

    August

     

    WED 29

     Introduction: Italian Immigration to the United States.  How to classify an 'Italian American" author or work.

    September

     

    WED 5

     Screening: The Italians (1913)

    WED 12

    NO CLASSES

    WED 19

    CANCELED 

    WED 26

    Reading: Son Of Italy (Pascal D'Angelo)

    October

     

    WED 3

     Screening: L:'Emigrante (1973)

    WED 10

    Reading: Christ in Concrete (Di Donato)

    WED 17

    Screening: L:'Emigrante (1973)

    WED 24

     Screening: Marty

    WED 31

      Reading: The Godfather (Mario Puzo)

    November

     

    WED 7

     Screening: The Godfather (F. Coppola, 1972)

    WED 14

     Screening: A Bronx Tale (De Niro, 1993)
    Reading: The Hyphenated Italian (Tamburri) selection of short stories

    WED 21

    FRIDAY CONVERSION DAY

    MON 26

    Reading: Old Italian Neighborhood Values (De Felice 2001)

    December

     

    WED 5

     Screening: True Love (Savoca 1989)

    WED 12

    Screening: Kiss me Guido (Vitale, 1997)

     

    FINAL EXAMS : Dec.14th - Dec 22nd