The course explores the theme of human rights in Italian and European societies during the twentieth and the twenty-first centuries. First, it is designed to discuss the rights of literature, i.e., the role that literature can play in the understanding of human rights. Second, it will provide students with a survey of the discussion of human rights in Italian and other European literatures. By presenting literary texts as narratives that have contributed to the debate on human rights, the course will introduce students to the most important moments in the history of human rights, from the first political organisations which fought for equal rights for factory workers, to the struggle of the feminist movement for women's emancipation throughout the twentieth century, to the approval of laws that legalized divorce and abortion during the 1970s and 80s, up to the new legislation on domestic violence, marriage, and adoption rights for LGBT people, and today’s debate on the issue of citizenship for immigrants. Students will read and compare foundational essays on the notion of literature written in different historical periods and countries such as Benjamin, Sartre, De Beauvoir, Sedgwick, just to name a few.

The course will be taught in English. Students who wish to take the course to fulfill the major or minor in Italian should register for ITAS 324. The course will provide reading and writing assignments in Italian, as well as individual discussion sessions in Italian, for students who are taking the course at the 300-level.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 15

Crosslisted Courses: CPLT 224

Prerequisites: None. Not open to students who have taken CPLT 324/ITAS 324.

Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Not Offered; Spring

Notes: This course is also offered at the 300 level as CPLT 324/ITAS 324, with readings and writing assignments in Italian.