Notes: Course Repeatable for Credit. Course Description: This course examines the period between 1958 and 1994 in Italy and the impact of political instability on the development of contemporary culture. The year 1958 marked the beginning of the economic boom in Italy, which was spurred by American aid and investments following World War II. During this period cinema and design-for-export products helped shape the perception of Italy, eclipsing the humble and poor image that emerged after the war. Yet, a strong current of anti-Americanization reverberated throughout the arts and literature. This course traces the trajectory of these two arms of Italian culture up to the election of Silvio Berlusconi in 1994 and the ways in which culture and politics contributed to the image of Italy in the world.