This interdisciplinary course examines the dictatorship that ruled Italy between 1922 and 1943. It will address the relationship between culture and politics, public and private, Fascist biopolitics; anti--Fascism; fascist colonialism and racism; the cult of Mussolini; and Fascist-era feminities and masculinities. Secondary sources will be combined with reading of primary texts, such as Fascist speeches and anti-Fascist novels, and viewing of newsreels and films produced during Fascism. Later literary and cinematic works depicting the period will also be studied.

*Course content subject to change