Venice, Florence, and Rome are three cities widely known and revered throughout the world. Why have these cities flourished over the centuries? What is it about Venice, Florence, and Rome that has inspired poets, artists, and philosophers? Come travel through time to explore three of Italy’s most renowned, beautiful, and lively cities as we discuss art, culture, and literature beginning in the Early Modern Period and transitioning to present day. Enjoy traversing the animated canals of Venice, visiting the artistic mecca of Florence, and discovering the monumental capital of Rome as we analyze and examine these cities through a cultural, historical, and literary context. Each text will call into question the cultural identity of these cities and ask how are these places represented throughout literature? What is problematic about a representation of the city from an outsider’s perspective compared to a native’s eyes? Most importantly, why is it significant to understand the city from multiple points of view and how do these various constructs influence our understanding of Venice, Florence, and Rome? During this course we will read texts by a wide variety of authors including William Shakespeare, Veronica Franco, Niccolò Machiavelli, E.M. Forster, and Amara Lakhous.

By the end of the semester, we will have a better understanding of these cities’ history, art, society, and literature. In this writing-intensive course, you will use your critical reflections on the texts as starting points for developing three papers. To achieve this goal, we will work with a series of brainstorming assignments, drafts, in-class workshops, peer reviews, and revisions. In addition, you will also complete shorter weekly reading responses and assignments devoted to specific elements of essay writing.

Due to the high demand for R&C courses we monitor attendance very carefully. Attendance is mandatory the first two weeks of classes, this includes all enrolled and wait listed students. If you do not attend all classes the first two weeks you may be dropped. If you are attempting to add into this class during weeks 1 and 2 and did not attend the first day, you will be expected to attend all class meetings thereafter and, if space permits, you may be enrolled from the wait list