LAT2409 – Mussolini Dux: The Latin Literature of Italian Fascism

Course content

"Rome is our starting point and our point of reference," Benito Mussolini declared in 1922: "it is our symbol or, if you wish, our Myth".

Signs and symbols of Rome were everywhere in Fascist Italy, from the symbol of the fasces to the ‘Roman salute’. The ancient language of Rome, too, was part of the Fascist ‘cult of Rome’. Classicists composed Latin inscriptions, treatises, speeches, and poems in various genres and meters. These Latin texts glorify the most diverse aspects of Fascist Italy, including its economic organization, landscapes and archaeological sites, its imperialist agenda, and not the least its leader Mussolini.

This course offers and introduction to the Latin literature of Italian fascism (1922-1943) as well as to reading and studying these texts. We will explore these texts’ literary and rhetorical features as well as their ideological role and function in Fascist propaganda. Students are introduced to an ongoing research project (New Signs of Antiquity) and get the chance to contribute to the online edition platform Fascist Latin Texts.

The course includes co-organizing a student symposium on the subject. The symposium shall be an open event, and we may invite one or two guest speakers.

Learning outcome

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• translate, analyze, and discuss various Latin texts written in Fascist Italy (1922-1943)
• explain the relevance of Ancient Rome and Latin for Italian Fascism and of the role of classics under the Fascist regime
• explain and apply different approaches in classical reception studies
• find, select, and critically assess relevant secondary literature
• present research results clearly both in oral and written form

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

• LAT1001 – Innføring i latin I or LAT4001 – Innføring i latin I for masterstudenter
• LAT1002 – Innføring i latin II

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with LAT4409 – Mussolini Dux: The Latin Literature of Italian Fascism (discontinued).

Teaching

14 double sessions, including student symposium. The teaching is common with LAT4409 – Mussolini Dux: The Latin Literature of Italian Fascism (discontinued).

We expect you to participate actively in the seminars and to take part in the organization of the student symposium.

In order for you to qualify for the final exam, the following compulsory tuition activities must be approved by the teacher:

• Draft of the term paper
• Oral presentation of the term paper at the student symposium
• Mid-term test

The compulsory activities are only valid one semester.

Examination

Term paper of ca. 12 pages (of 2300 characters each; list of references not included) including an annotated edition and/or annotated translation of a Latin text (selected with teacher).

When you write a term paper, you are entitled to receive individual tutoring. The obligatory draft of the term paper forms the basis for this tutoring. An exact deadline for handing in the draft will be given by the teacher during the seminar.

In order for you to qualify for the final examination, all compulsory tuition activities must be approved by the teacher.

Language of examination

You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.