Italian 214:

Comedy Italian Style

This course will explore the development of comedy as a cultural, aesthetic, and political force. Presented through different artistic expressions, comedy will be examined as a reflection of Italian society and customs. Italian comedy often revolves around dramatic human themes and controversial political subjects, while the point of view of the author is humoristic or satirical. This course will discuss Eduardo De Filippo’s tragic-comic Neapolitan theater, 1997 Nobel Prize Winner Dario Fo's and Franca Rame’s subversive theatrical texts, and the political satire of contemporary women comedians such as Angela Finocchiaro and Sabina Guzzanti. Comedy will be analyzed also in cinema through the performances and directorial styles of Totò, Massimo Troisi, Roberto Benigni, Maurizio Nichetti, and Carlo Verdone. Finally, this course will discuss poetic texts by Fabrizio De Andrè and Giorgio Gaber, authors and performers of satirical songs. Conducted in Italian.