For students without previous training in Italian. Aural comprehension, speaking, writing, reading, (No credit for students who have had two or more years of Italian in secondary school; however, any such students whose studies of Italian have been interrupted for seven years should consult the Program Coordinator about possibly receiving credit).

For students without previous training in Italian. Aural comprehension, speaking, writing, reading, (No credit for students who have had two or more years of Italian in secondary school; however, any such students whose studies of Italian have been interrupted for seven years should consult the Program Coordinator about possibly receiving credit).

For students without previous training in Italian. Aural comprehension, speaking, writing, reading, (No credit for students who have had two or more years of Italian in secondary school; however, any such students whose studies of Italian have been interrupted for seven years should consult the Program Coordinator about possibly receiving credit).

This course examines motherhood and the special role of the Italian mother - la mamma italiana - in past and present italian society. Through readings from a wide variety of disciplines - theology, history, medicine, and literature - as well as an examination of art and film, we will analyze the origins and conflicted nature of Italian attitudes toward motherhood. Topics include: maternal love and self-sacrifice, beliefs about generation and their influence on maternal and paternal roles, Italian family structure. Mussolini's promotion of motherhood, the phenomenon of mammismo or "Mama's boys", and Italian-American mothers, including Carmela Soprano.