Corsi di Studio del Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza

Students taking the course should have acquired the basic knowledge of comparative law and an excellent grasp of the history of legal traditions.

In an era marked by rapid societal changes and complex global challenges, Law and Literature stands out as one of the most compelling interdisciplinary movements within academia. By engaging with classical and modern literature, films, poetry, artworks, and theater, this course will equip students with a deeper understanding of the cultural frameworks that shape legal studies today.

Our goal is to foster critical and interdisciplinary thinking, enabling students to analyze the styles, narratives, symbolism, and rhetorical strategies that have influenced the evolution of legal traditions. With a dynamic and comprehensive approach, the course will explore the rich history of the Law and Literature movement – from its origins to its latest developments –demonstrating how the humanities offer invaluable insights for legal scholars. Special emphasis will be placed on the emergence of modern legal theory and its intersections with broader cultural trends.

In today’s world, where legal issues are increasingly interwoven with societal, ethical, and philosophical considerations, this course aims to break down the barriers of a strictly positivistic view of law. Instead, it will encourage an expanded, interdisciplinary perspective, offering students the tools to rethink the legal phenomenon in light of humanistic knowledge. Ultimately, the course seeks to empower students to approach law with creativity, critical inquiry, and an open mind, making it highly relevant for the contemporary moment.

By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate:

– A nuanced understanding of the cultural and historical origins of law, recognizing the diverse influences that have shaped legal systems.

– In-depth theoretical knowledge of the relationship between law and literary studies, including the ways in which literature has informed legal thought and practice.

– Enhanced critical-thinking skills in jurisprudence and case law, allowing for sophisticated analysis and interpretation of legal texts and decisions.

– A heightened awareness of the foundations of legal concepts, along with a refined ability to apply comparative methodologies across both Western and non-Western legal traditions.

The course will be structured into four, interconnected sections:

1. The Symbolic Forms of Justice in Western Legal History

This section will delve into the symbolic representations of Justice that have shaped Western legal traditions. Justice is far more than a mere system of laws and courts; it is an intricate institutional framework composed of individuals, powers, and roles. We will explore how rituals, traditions, and rational norms have converged to define crimes and punishments, and how these elements have contributed to the formation of Justice as a societal ideal.

2. Legal Argumentation and Rhetorical Practice

In this section, we will examine the deep relationship between legal argumentation and the art of rhetoric. From ancient times to the present, the oratorical skills of lawyers have played a crucial role in the practice of law. We will analyze how rhetoric has shaped legal reasoning and advocacy, and its continued importance in legal education and the courtroom.

3. Shakespeare and the Rise of Modern Legal Traditions

The third section will focus on the close reading of several Shakespearean works (including Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Richard II, and Romeo and Juliet) to explore the intersection of literature, political theory, and law. Through these texts, we will trace the emergence of modern legal traditions and investigate how literary and artistic forms have influenced the development of political and legal thought.

4. Law, Cinema, and Visual Culture

In this final section, we will expand our inquiry into contemporary visual media – film, video games, and other digital platforms – to explore how these forms shape our understanding of law and justice in today’s world. Iconic legal dramas in cinema, such as 12 Angry Men and A Few Good Men, alongside video games like Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, will serve as case studies to illustrate how law is represented, interpreted, and sometimes distorted through visual storytelling. We will critically examine the impact of these modern cultural forms on popular conceptions of legal institutions and their role in society.

In-person classes.

Please remember to enroll clicking on the icon "Registrati al Corso" (Enroll me) and accessing the Moodle page ("Vai a Moodle") where you will find week after week all didactic material concerning the class of Law and Literature (a.y. 2024-2025).

Please be informed that in order to pass the exam, attending students are required to write a 6000-words paper following APA style on a topic of their choice from those discussed during the course. The final term paper must be structured according to the "Five-Paragraph Essay" format. At the end of the course, an oral presentation of the paper will also be required.

For non-attending students: written exam with open-ended questions [only in person!].

Not available.

For non attending students:

• G. Minda, Postmodern Legal Movements: Law and Jurisprudence at Century's End (New York University Press, 1995).

The book can be easily downloaded from the JSTOR platform by clicking on this link.