History and Culture of the Italian Experience in Argentina

Argentina’s history was deeply influenced by the European presence thanks to the millions of immigrants that settled this South-American nation. The objective of the course is to describe the important social and cultural contributions that the Italians had by exploring five specific areas: History, Music, Architecture, Painting, and Sculpture. Particular attention will be given to the history of Italian immigration, the Italian influence on tango, the linguistic influence on the typical Lunfardo and Cocoliche argot of Buenos Aires.
The relationship between the two cultures on such topics as Art and Architecture, Literature and Cinema will be closely explored and analyzed from an historical and cultural prospective.

Finally the course will cover the literary production of a living Italian writer, Antonio del Masetto, author of the acclaimed novel Oscuramente Fuerte Es La Vida, 1990 and the cinematographic production of Italian-Argentian director Marco Bechis.