To introduce and broaden the students’ perceptions of Italian crime and Mafia fiction and film;

To introduce a variety of theoretical and critical approaches and considers how the different sources can relate to each other and to society;

To explore and analyse a variety of sources (including novels, films and TV series);

To make students aware of relevant aspects of Italian crime and Mafia fiction and film which they may wish to explore further in postgraduate research programmes.

(LO1) An ability to understand and discuss literary texts, films and other artefacts and to place these sources in its broader historical, cultural and social context.

(LO2) An ability to apply theoretical approaches or critical secondary literature to the analysis of written and audio-visual sources.  

(LO3) Ability to demonstrate confidence in written analysis and debate

(S1) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S2) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Oral skills

(S3) Global citizenship - Cultural awareness

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S5) Personal attributes and qualities - Independence

(S6) Research skills - Independent analysis

The majority of teaching will be delivered face-to-face on campus. Online delivery will be used to complement the on-campus delivery and where technology affords a better learning experience.

Seminar:
Seminars will focus on the discussion of selected authors/novels or films which will be introduced during the lectures. Films will be screened before seminars take place. The delivery of the module consists in lectures, seminars and film screenings. Lectures and film screenings will take place asynchronously (on Canvas); the weekly (90-minute) seminars will take place synchronously in class. The history and background to the concept of crime fiction and Mafia film and to the selected novels, films and other artefacts, and to the main relevant theoretical and critical approaches will be introduced through formal lectures (narrated PowerPoint presentations, videos etc.), which students will be expected to cover and reinforce with background reading before each seminar. Seminars will focus on the discussion of the lecture material and the relevant authors/novels or selected films which the students will read/watch before each film seminar.

Self-directed learning includes the time during which students should cove the lecture material, read the novel/watch the film, and complete the preparatory reading, the blog posts, quizzes and other online activities on a weekly basis.

This module explores the development of Italian crime and Mafia fiction, films and other media artefacts from the early 1900s to the present. The social and political engagement of a selection of crime and Mafia novels, films and other visual / media manifestations will be explored through a wide variety of literary and cinematic genres and a range of critical and theoretical approaches which may include historical perspective, narratology, spatial representation, gender theory, trauma theory, cognitive and reception theory, and visual adaptation of literary texts.

Fiction topics may include:

Crime novels during the fascist period;

From giallo to noir: the social crime novel / romanzo sociale;

Historical revisionism and the geographical crime novel / giallo geografico;

Crime novel as counter-information and the Mediterranean noir.

Authors discussed in class may include:

Emilio De Marchi;

Augusto De Angelis;

Carlo Emilio Gadda;

Leonardo Sciascia;

Giorgio Scerbanenco;

Carlo Lucarelli;

Andrea Camilleri;

Massimo Carlotto;

Grazia Verasasi;

Amara Lakhous.

Film topics may include:

Crime film during the fascist period;

The representation of prostitution in post-war crime film;

Noir / black neorealism and the concept of noir;

Auteur / Political and populist crime and Mafia film;

Postmodern crime film and contemporary Mafia cinema.

Film seminar may include:

Luchino Visconti’s Obsession;

Giuseppe De Santis’ Bitter Rice;

Francesco Rosi’s Hands over the City;

Matteo Garrone’s Gomorrah.