Italian Culture for Foreign Students I
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course is designed to introduce foreign students to the fundamentals of Italian culture. To this end, lectures cover Italy's main historical events and social, economic and political phenomena, from the Risorgimento to today.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students are expected to demonstrate a good knowledge of the peculiarities of Italian culture, being able to autonomously read and understand texts included in the syllabus.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is divided into three teaching units.
Teaching Unit 1: "History of Unified Italy"
This unit covers the main stages of Italy's social, political, and cultural history: the Risorgimento, the Giolittian Era, the First World War, Fascism, the Resistance, the Economic Boom, the 1968 protests, the Years of Lead, and the Second Republic.
Teaching Unit 2: "Milan in the 1930s and 1940s"
This part of the course focuses on a short story collection by writer Giuseppe Marotta, A Milano non fa freddo (1949), which offers a portrait of Milan as Italy's economic and moral capital.
Teaching Unit 3: "Milan during the Economic Miracle"
This unit explores Milan in the early 1960s, seen as the Italian capital of material well-being. The course will examine Ermanno Olmi's film Il posto (1961) and Ugo Gregoretti's short film Il pollo ruspante (1963).
Teaching Unit 1: "History of Unified Italy"
This unit covers the main stages of Italy's social, political, and cultural history: the Risorgimento, the Giolittian Era, the First World War, Fascism, the Resistance, the Economic Boom, the 1968 protests, the Years of Lead, and the Second Republic.
Teaching Unit 2: "Milan in the 1930s and 1940s"
This part of the course focuses on a short story collection by writer Giuseppe Marotta, A Milano non fa freddo (1949), which offers a portrait of Milan as Italy's economic and moral capital.
Teaching Unit 3: "Milan during the Economic Miracle"
This unit explores Milan in the early 1960s, seen as the Italian capital of material well-being. The course will examine Ermanno Olmi's film Il posto (1961) and Ugo Gregoretti's short film Il pollo ruspante (1963).
Prerequisites for admission
Good knowledge of written and spoken Italian language.
Teaching methods
Teaching takes place through lectures, supported by the vision of images and videos.
Teaching Resources
Teaching Unit 1: "History of Unified Italy"
- Mario Isnenghi, "Breve storia d'Italia a uso dei perplessi (e non)", Laterza.
Teaching Unit 2: "Milan in the 1930s and 1940s"
- Giuseppe Marotta, "A Milano non fa freddo", Unicopli.
- Luca Daino, "Sul serio c'è da ridere", introduction to Giuseppe Marotta, "A Milano non fa freddo", Unicopli, pp. 7-21.
Teaching Unit 3: "Milan during the Economic Miracle"
- Ermanno Olmi, "Il posto" (available on YouTube).
- Ugo Gregoretti, "Il pollo ruspante" (available on YouTube).
- Mario Isnenghi, "Breve storia d'Italia a uso dei perplessi (e non)", Laterza.
Teaching Unit 2: "Milan in the 1930s and 1940s"
- Giuseppe Marotta, "A Milano non fa freddo", Unicopli.
- Luca Daino, "Sul serio c'è da ridere", introduction to Giuseppe Marotta, "A Milano non fa freddo", Unicopli, pp. 7-21.
Teaching Unit 3: "Milan during the Economic Miracle"
- Ermanno Olmi, "Il posto" (available on YouTube).
- Ugo Gregoretti, "Il pollo ruspante" (available on YouTube).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral interview on the topics of the syllabus, whose purpose is to ascertain the knowledge of the main issues covered and in particular the acquisition of the fundamental notions relating to the cultural and literary identity of United Italy. Attendance at lessons is strongly recommended for better exam preparation. However, the syllabus already includes additions for students who could not attend.
There are no intermediate tests, nor partial exams: students must present all the teaching units to the exam, without exception. Students must register through the appropriate links on the University website: only in this case the exams can be regularly registered.
There are no intermediate tests, nor partial exams: students must present all the teaching units to the exam, without exception. Students must register through the appropriate links on the University website: only in this case the exams can be regularly registered.
L-FIL-LET/11 - CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Daino Luca
Professor(s)