IT3CCO: Crisis, Change, Opportunity: Italy from 1968 to the Present

Module code: IT3CCO

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Daniela La Penna, email: d.lapenna@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module focuses on defining episodes of Italian history from 1968 to the present day, and it will shed light on how each of the selected themes and events have contributed to change the physiognomy of contemporary Italian society. Starting from 1968 as a catalyst year for social change, the module will examine how key moments of systemic crisis such as the experience of terrorism, the feminist revolt, and the post-war mafia wars, engendered long-lasting change and while fostering the opportunity to challenge and modify narratives of identity, citizenship and nationhood in contemporary Italy.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Analyse the historical development of key events and examine differing historiographical interpretations of the pattern and causes of the developments under scrutiny
2. Critically evaluate primary and secondary sources of the topics in question
3. Explain how ideas and events are shaped by their historical contexts.
4. Research, organise, and articulate a rigorous scholarly argument in written and oral form

Module content

The module will examine the period 1968-present and it will treat 1968 and 1989 as the catalyst years for a number of changes taking place in Italy in the cultural, political, social and legislative fields. The module will look at the changes in political and social life, the impact of the media on politics (with a special focus on Berlusconi), and address the role played by internal and external migration in defining Italian identity within the Mediterranean and Europe. The course will focus themes taken from the list below, and it will adopt a case-study approach:

(1)    The feminist movement (2) terrorism(s) (3) regionalism vs nationalism (4) media and politics (5) citizenship, identity, and migration (6) the mafia.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course will be delivered through a series of lectures and seminars. Seminars will involve discussion of primary sources (including protest songs, manifestos, video footage, documentaries, printed and mixed media sources etc) and major historiographical theses. Discussion will be focused on these specific and significant national case studies, however students will be encouraged to contribute their own perspectives and to place Italy in a wider transnational context.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Each case study will require students conducting preparatory research and reading prior to lectures and seminars. Seminars will be structured around weekly group discussion led by pairs of students, and the presentation of theses or debates.

Reassessment

Additional costs