Socl 280 / RoSt 299 / IntS 292 - Topics in Contemporary Sociology: Italy Today:Loyola University Chicago

Rome Center
- IFMS 263 Fall 2012

Socl 280 / RoSt 299 / IntS 292 - Topics in Contemporary Sociology: Italy Today

Fall 2009

Instructor: Prof.ssa Sarah F. Maclaren

Meeting Day: Monday and Wednesday

Meeting Times: 12:20-1:35 pm

Course Description
We will study Italy from a sociological, cultural, political and anthropological viewpoint, in order to gain an overview of a country which has been a nation for just over one hundred years, marks considerable disparities, and has undergone great social and cultural changes since the end of World War II. This course is divided into two parts. We will begin by studying the dramatic social, political, economic and cultural transformations which turned Italy into one of the world's leading industrial democracies, starting from the post-war reconstruction, the industrialization, the economic miracle of the 1950s and 1960s, and the great internal migration, to the social movements from 1968 to 1980, to the formation of a post-industrial society. We will see how Italy has achieved a high cultural profile and a level of material prosperity that have generated a post-modern, mass consumer and globalized society. Then, adopting an interdisciplinary focus, we will examine diverse sociological and cultural aspects of contemporary Italy such as Catholicism, gender identities, the role of the family, emigration and immigration, stereotypes and regional identities, media and material culture, Italian design, the Italian language and linguistic pluralism, etc.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the semester, students should be able to

demonstrate an understanding of Italy's social, cultural, political and economic history since the end of World War II
demonstrate an understanding of the processes and components of Italian society and culture
demonstrate an understanding of differences of class, gender, and race in Italy
demonstrate an awareness that Italian values and behavior, lifestyles and consumption patterns are influenced by specific factors and have changed substantially over the last 60 years
demonstrate an understanding that specific social and cultural traits, such as religion, family, gender, regionalism, and stereotypes are influenced by contest, culture, and time
demonstrate an understanding of how the Italian individual self concept stems from the familial, societal, and cultural contexts in which Italians develop
demonstrate effective critical thinking skills and dispositions.

You will learn to think critically about contemporary Italian society and the transformation of values, behavior, gender relationships and lifestlyes. You will learn to analyze Italy's specific cultural traits from the context and time in which they developed. You will learn to think critically about issues such as stereotypes, regional identities, and diversity in the global world.

Learning Activities

Texts:

• Course packet

• The course will combine lectures, class discussions, films, documentaries and guest speakers (if feasible). Presentation of all material will be framed within relevant social and cultural contexts, and will be supported - when available - by audiovisual aids, such as photographs, newspapers, magazines etc.

Requirements:

Grading:

Attendance and class participation:

Students are strongly recommended to be present, as the course also addresses the social and cultural experience of being and living in Italy. After more than 2 absences, the grade drops. The assigned reading materials should be read before (not only after) the lessons as the grade on class participation depends on demonstrating that the texts have been studied and the discussions on the topics dealt with are highly encouraged and are an integral part of the course.

Students must take the examinations and tests when they are set, because make up sessions will not be given, except for very serious reasons and authorized by the Academic Dean.

Cheating or dishonesty of any kind on an examination will be penalized by an F (0 points).

Midterm exam:

The midterm exam will include selected questions based on the assigned readings and topics covered in the first part of the course.

Tests:

There will be 1 test based on the topics and readings dealt with in the second part of the course.

Essay:

The students are required to write a review on a documentary or a film regarding contemporary Italian society. The essay will be 10,000 characters long (including spaces, footnotes and bibliography) to be handed in no later than November 25. The JFRC library has a wide selection of documentaries and films.

The students of Catholic Studies may write a project on topics related to Catholicism in Italy Today, such as popular religiosity, and sociological and anthropological perspectives of Catholicism.

Final exam:

The final exam, question form, will be based on the essays and topics covered in the second part of the course.

Grade distribution:

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

Attendance, assigned readings, class participation 30%

Midterm 20%

Test 10%

Essay/Review 10%

Final examination 30%

Grading scale:

A = 96-100; A- = 93-95; B+ = 89-92; B = 85-88; B- = 81-84; C+ = 77-80; C = 73-76; C- = 69-72; D+ = 65-68; D = 61-64; F = 60 and below

Disabilities:

Students with disabilities who wish to discuss academic accommodations should contact me the first week of class, as well as the Learning Assistance Center.

Semester Schedule:

1. Sept. 7 Mon.

Ice-breaking

Presentation of course and syllabus

2. Sept. 9 Wed.

The Transformation of Italian Society: Part I