Please see the Timetable Builder for the courses offered in the current session. To narrow your search, filter for "UTM - Italian" in the Department / Subject Area field (Step 2). For the full listing of all Italian courses, please see the Academic Calendar.
Italian Studies Program Coordinator Contact: ita.pc.utm@utoronto.ca
New courses for the 2026-27 academic year!
ITA230H5 • The Rise and Fall of the Knight
(Offered in English) This course explores the chivalric tradition as a dynamic and multifaceted cultural phenomenon, tracing its evolution from medieval origins through the early modern period and into contemporary manifestations in both society and literature. From an interdisciplinary perspective, the course examines key literary works, such as Ludovico Ariosto’s Renaissance masterpiece Orlando Furioso, to consider how the ideals of chivalry are continually reimagined across historical contexts. Special emphasis is placed on the layered meanings within each text and the shifting definitions of chivalry over time and place. Texts will be available in Italian and English. Experiential Learning Opportunities include engaging with scholars and participating in virtual tours of locations featured in the works studied.
ITA372H5 • Speaking Beasts: Animals in Italian Storytelling
(Offered in English and Italian) This course investigates the concept of “the animal,” the process of animalization, and the dichotomy between humans and animals in modern Italian literature, film, and poetry. Through a diverse selection of works in which animals serve as symbols, characters, or creative catalysts, students explore how animal representations shape narrative structures and challenge anthropocentric perspectives. The course also delves into the ethical, philosophical, and social dimensions of animal imagery in modern Italian thought. Featured authors include Giambattista Basile, Dino Buzzati, Italo Calvino, Elsa Morante, Giovanni Verga, and Umberto Saba. Texts will be available in Italian and English. Experiential Learning Opportunities include engaging with authors, filmmakers, and scholars, and participating in virtual tours of locations featured in the works studied.
ITA394H5 • Black Voices in Italian Culture
(Offered in English) This course explores the contributions of Black Italian writers, filmmakers, artists, and activists, analyzing a diverse range of works through historical, political, and social lenses. Central themes include identity, alterity, gender, and race. The course features works by Ubah Cristina Ali Farah, Anna Maria Gehnyei, Fred Kudjo Kuwornu, Amara Lakhous, Marie Moïse, and Igiaba Scego, among others. Texts will be available in Italian and English. Experiential Learning Opportunities include engaging with authors, filmmakers, scholars, community organizations, and diasporic networks, and participating in virtual tours of locations featured in the works studied.