Cinema and Fascism

This course focuses on the relationship between ideology and cinema, taking its cue mainly but not exclusively from the analysis of the Italian case. During the semester feature films and documentaries made during the fascist regime in Italy (1922-1945) as well as movies depicting fascism after the end of WWII, from neo-realism to nowadays, will be screened and discussed in class. How fascism used cinema as a propaganda tool? What is ideological art? How history is reflected in motion pictures? These are some of the questions that will be presented during the semester. Students will be required to write a monographic assignment at the end of the year on a film of their choice.