Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Scripps Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Scripps Catalog THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. LINKS MAY NO LONGER BE ACTIVE AND CONTENT MAY BE OUT OF DATE!

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ITAL 121 SC - The Italian Fairy Tale Tradition


Even though Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Puss in Boots are among the most popular tales on a global scale, their Italian origins remain unknown or unclear to many. This course aims at unveiling the Italian fairy tale and folk tale traditions and depictions of the human condition through the works of authors such as Straparola (c.1480-1557) and Basile (1566-1632), the founders of this genre, who first blended realistic and fantastical elements in their collections. Students will read and analyze fairy tales written between the Renaissance and today in relation to the cultural milieu in which they originated and their adaptations in other genres and literary traditions. While it is true that numerous fairy tales were initially aimed at spreading civic and familial values among children and young adults, we will examine how many also contributed to the construction and perpetuation of stereotypes, gender roles, and discrimination. In this course, we will discuss questions concerning the narratological and literary aspects of fairy tales, the relationship between fairy tales and national identity, and the reworking of older fairy tales and the production of new ones, in regard to contemporary culture and its aspirations and anxieties. The course will end with readings of the latest “fairy tales” inspired by recent events such as the Mediterranean refugee crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Course Credit: 1.0
Offered: Occasionally


Please refer to the course schedule on the Scripps Portal for current course offerings and details.




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