SOC 320 – Identity and Culture in Italy: A Comparative Approach

The course will focus mainly on the following themes: the creation of a sense of belonging and the experience of being “different”; self-recognition and recognition of others (as individuals and as members of a group); the dynamics of interaction with another person/other people as well as the origins of representations and stereotypes. Another objective of the course is to take an in-depth look at the concept of individual and collective identity; within the lifecycle stages particular attention will be given to the passage from youth to adulthood, depicting a peculiar Italian phenomenon: the prolongation of youth. As well as learning concepts and theories, students will be invited to undertake a journey of self–awareness, so as to internalize the themes tackled during the term and apply them in a critical manner. Part of the course will be set aside for the theme of journey. Students will thus be able to supplement their studies by learning concepts which will help them to elaborate what they are experiencing. The basic concepts adopted – and shared with the students – allow for an interdisciplinary approach, including Sociology, Social and Cultural Anthropology, and Social Psychology. The narrative approach will be our “discipline glue”.

At the end of this course, the successful student is expected to be able to:

1. actively engage with the topics brought to his/her attention – assessed in the participation;
2. understand the main theoretical perspectives and empirical findings discussed in class – assessed in the midterm exam and final debate;
3. analyze how one socio-cultural feature has affected his/her self-identity both home and abroad – assessed in the first part of the research paper;
4. critically understand and apply concepts and methods learned during the course – assessed in the research paper.