Classes on : Jan 22 | Feb 5 & 19 | Mar 4 & 18 | Apr 1 & 15

Produced since World War II, the films we will study in this seminar establish a theoretical framework for the analysis of Fascism, its political ideology, and its ethical dynamics. Emphasis on the concept of fascist normality, the racial laws, the morality of social identities (women, homosexuals), the Resistance, and the aftermath of the Holocaust. Films include: Bertolucci's The Conformist, De Sica's The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, Fellini’s Amarcord, Wertmüller's Seven Beauties, Cavani’s The Night Porter, Rossellini's Open City, Benigni's Life Is Beautiful, Bellocchio’s Vincere. The approach is interdisciplinary and combines the study of socio-historical themes with an in-depth cinematic reading of the films. Students are expected to view at least two films per seminar. Grades will be based on class discussion and a final paper (18-20 pages).