COURSE DESCRIPTION This course analyses the traditional cultures of Italy from the post-war period from an anthropological standpoint with reference to: the social organization of communities, family ritual, traditions and folklore, gender issues, land tenure, Mediterranean cultural patterns. The focus is on what is generally defined as “made in Italy”: society, culture and style in post-war Italy. Lectures will cover topics such as the role of the Catholic Church, the institution of the family, festivals and the definition of the Italian identity, cultural traditions, sport, popular songs and musical cultures. We will examine some key moments and issues in contemporary Italy such as: - The attempt at building a new national identity after the fall of Fascism; - The Cold War and its impact on Italian society; - The North-South divide, the “economic miracle”, the southern and the Mafia issues; - Sport traditions, popular music and fashion; - The Italian Family between tradition and change; - Contemporary developments in the Italian Society. List of suggested topics for research papers: The following is a list of possible titles for your suggested paper. You are free to propose your own topic, modify or specify one of those below indicated but with the approval of the Instructor. 1) The Church and Fascism: reciprocal interest for an agreement and the unease of the Catholic anti-     fascists 2) Anti-fascism and exiles 3) Fascism and populism: exploring the reasons of a huge political consensus for a dictatorship 4) The fascist use of mass communication: Fascism and mass produced consensus 5) A war within the war: the civil war in Italy, 1943-45. 6) The role of women in the Resistance 7) 1943-1948: Death and rebirth of the nation 8) Domestic life and consumer society in Italy during the economic miracle 9) The Italian society between the 50’s and the 60’s: tradition and modernization 10) The migration towards the North and its social consequences 12) The changing role of women in the mafia and in other criminal organizations 13) The rebirth of the mafia with the Second World War and the relationship between the American       and the Italian Cosa Nostra. 14) The Mafia and the Italian political system (some of the cases that could be analysed are: Giuliano        and Portella della Ginestra, The sack of Palermo, the Andreotti trial, the bankers and their links        with the Vatican during the years of the drug trade, the excellent cadavers of the period 1978-        83) 15) The Italian Family between tradition and change: the crisis of the Institution 16) Italian Fashion and Style: the recent crisis of the made in Italy 17) The changing role of women in Italian society from the feminism waves of the late 60’s and 70’s        up until the present day 18) Sport and particularly soccer in contemporary Italy as a way of gaining political consensus 19) A comparison between the use of sport by the Fascist regime and today’s Italy. 20) The changing and increasing importance of the media in Italy: an analysis of contemporary        Italian Television.