This course questions anthropocentrism and human/nonhuman animal relations through a specialized, ecocritical and ecofeminist analysis of theoretical, visual and literary texts. In many European and Judeo-Christian representations, the nonhuman animal is subjected to the human, and represented as the carrier of a 'value' or 'message' applicable to the human world. In such cultural texts and artifacts, nonhuman animals tend to not be seen, represented, understood as equals, and/or as members of a completely difference species holding value per se, having abilities and skills not directly exploitable in the anthropocentric world. Recent theory has instead voiced the importance of including analyses of the nonhuman to existing analyses questioning colonialism and exploitations based on religion, gender, race, political ideas. Based on these theoretical reading, we will ask: Which discriminatory mechanisms, which power structures apply, similarly or even identically, to nonhumans and to minority, colonized, discriminated groups? How in turn have some minority groups (such as indigenous people) have fought to include land and animal rights in their own battle for full recognition as equal political subjects? We will work actively as a group and individually to identify the cultural discourses enabling domination and exploitation of nonhuman animals, along other subtler instances of anthropocentrism and speciesism. We will then try to leave behind our anthropocentrism and to come up with creative solutions for a more just interspecies world.

Black Italian Cinema and Digital Performance is an introduction to issues of culture, “race,” identity, and citizenship in contemporary Italy drawing from documentary, film, and the new arena of the social media. An entire generation of Black Italians, in particular artists, entrepreneurs, bloggers (especially Millennials), have been affirming themselves in Italian culture and society, gaining progressively more visibility starting in the 1990s, thus entering the spotlight of the Global Black Diaspora. In this course we will ask questions such as: Which themes are most discussed among Black Italians? Which art forms do they cite and refer to? In which ways and through which channels do Black Italians engage with the Global Black Diaspora? How is this generation seeking to be included in the history and socio-economic system of a country that still refuses citizenship to children born on the Italian soil? What kind of cultural and artistic production has been emerging from “the new Italians”? Together with film-maker and activist Fred Kuwornu, we will explore his own work, and that of emerging artists such as Antonio Dikele Distefano, Ghali, and web-based projects such as “Afroitalian Souls.”

Food can be used as metaphor, as political and economical tool, as a way to assert dominance and power - and as all of the above combined. Developing a palate for a certain type of food is also intensely affected by cultural, geographical, and socio-economical reasons. Why is it almost impossible to mention Italian culture without referring to its rich gastronomical tradition? Why has Italy such a great regional diversity in recipes, staple foods, and even eating habits? What it the significance of specific food representations in art, literature, and film? And what is 'Slow Food'? In this course we will explore a broad history of Italian food in its European context, while also researching (and tasting!) local case-studies in two Italian regions. No pre-requisites, no knowledge of Italian language required (although at least one block of Italian language is warmly suggested).

This course questions anthropocentrism and human/nonhuman animal relations through a specialized, ecocritical and ecofeminist analysis of theoretical, visual and literary texts. In many European and Judeo-Christian representations, the nonhuman animal is subjected to the human, and represented as the carrier of a 'value' or 'message' applicable to the human world. In such cultural texts and artifacts, nonhuman animals tend to not be seen, represented, understood as equals, and/or as members of a completely difference species holding value per se, having abilities and skills not directly exploitable in the anthropocentric world. Recent theory has instead voiced the importance of including analyses of the nonhuman to existing analyses questioning colonialism and exploitations based on religion, gender, race, political ideas. Based on these theoretical reading, we will ask: Which discriminatory mechanisms, which power structures apply, similarly or even identically, to nonhumans and to minority, colonized, discriminated groups? How in turn have some minority groups (such as indigenous people) have fought to include land and animal rights in their own battle for full recognition as equal political subjects? We will work actively as a group and individually to identify the cultural discourses enabling domination and exploitation of nonhuman animals, along other subtler instances of anthropocentrism and speciesism. We will then try to leave behind our anthropocentrism and to come up with creative solutions for a more just interspecies world.

This course interrogates anthropocentrism and human/nonhuman animal relations through a specialized, eceocritical and ecofeminist analysis of theoretical, visual and literary texts. This program will visit the Andean highlands as well as the Galapagos archipelago.

Food can be used as metaphor, as political and economical tool, as a way to assert dominance and power - and as all of the above combined. Developing a palate for a certain type of food is also intensely affected by cultural, geographical, and socio-economical reasons. Why is it almost impossible to mention Italian culture without referring to its rich gastronomical tradition? Why has Italy such a great regional diversity in recipes, staple foods, and even eating habits? What it the significance of specific food representations in art, literature, and film? And what is 'Slow Food'? In this course we will explore a broad history of Italian food in its European context, while also researching (and tasting!) local case-studies in two Italian regions. No pre-requisites, no knowledge of Italian language required (although at least one block of Italian language is warmly suggested).