The Southern Question has been a major topic in Italian political, economic, and cultural life for a century and more. The South remains a resonant theme in Italian literature and cinema. What consequences has the Question had in controlling the imaginations and actions of intellectuals and those with political and other forms of power?

In this lecture, Dr. Iannotta will examine movies by Luchino Visconti (“La terra trema,” “Rocco e i suoi fratelli,” “Il Gattopardo”) and Emanuele Crialese (“Respiro,” “Nuovomondo”) that articulate a productive framework to orientate North-South relations at both a local and global level.