Representations of Capitalism in History and LiteratureJuly 18-29, 2016Venice International UniversityIsola di San Servolo, Venice

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The Merchant of Venice and Beyond: Representations of Capitalism in History and LiteratureSummer School

Venice International University18-29 July 2016

Program Directors:Luca Pes (History, Venice International University)Shaul Bassi (Literature, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia)

Visiting Lecturers:Natalia Mazur (Visual Studies, European University at St. Petersburg)Nili Cohen (Contract and Comparative Law, Tel Aviv University)Dominic Green (Political Science, Boston College)

Program Aim Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is regarded as one of the seminal literary documents connected to the development of venture capitalism in the early modern era. The association between Venice and trading, on the one hand, and Jews and moneylending, on the other, has made of this controversial play both a vehicle of antisemitic prejudice and a productive arena of discussion for these key issues that continue to be topical in the era of neoliberal globalization and of geopolitical crisis in the Mediterranean.

The aim of this program is to examine the multiple representations of capitalism in literature, history, and the arts, looking at different periods and texts to provide a comparative perspective, while taking advantage of the first historic performance of Shakespeare’s play in the Ghetto of Venice (its ideal setting).

The course will also include site-specific activities that will highlight the role of Venice in different stages of the history of capitalism, from the age of mercantilism to the present state of global tourism. Literary and cultural texts will be read alongside economic and historical essays that both promote and criticize capitalism in its various forms, and popular culture will be used to represent example of local resistance to the pressure of global capitalism.

Site visits include: Guided tour of Palazzo Ducale; Guided tour of the Ghetto and Synagogues; Visit to the Biennale; Tour of the Arsenale; Lagoon Tour by boat.

Topics:- Merchant capitalism and merchant republics;- Images, interpretations, myths and anti-myths of Venetian capitalism and republicanism;- Legal and economic aspects of The Merchant of Venice; - The rise of the bourgeoisie and the spirit of modern capitalism;- Interpretations of the decline of Venice;- Literary representations of 19th Century capitalism;- Monopoly capitalism, the fordist factory and imperialism;- Images of capitalism in Russia (1861-1917);- Representations of imperial 20th Century Venice, Giuseppe Volpi and Fascism;- Industrial Marghera, factory life, popular culture and workers’ resistance;- Globalization and the age of neoliberalism; - Representations of Venice in the neoliberal and postindustrial era.

Venice Ghetto 500 The program will coincide with the Quincentennial of the foundation of the Jewish Ghetto of Venice and will include the first performance of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, a seminal representation of the dynamics of modern capitalism, in the Ghetto. This course offers a unique contribution to a rich national and international program of cultural events, choosing as its distinctive perspective that of representations of capitalism in different texts, especially literary and visual, from the early modern to the postmodern, neoliberal era.

Learning outcomes of the programStudents will develop the ability to critically analyze and compare texts, from a specific point of view; will develop the ability to discuss in interdisciplinary, international context; will achieve introductory knowledge about varieties of ways in which capitalist relations have been imagined and described in different times of History and will be introduced to the history of Venice, from this particular angle.

Credits:The program is equivalent to 3 ECTS. Credit-seeking students who prepare a research paper or a creative project during the month following the Summer School, under the guidance of one of the program directors, will be awarded 6 ECTS. A final grade will be given, based on the paper or project (60%) and participation in class (40%)A detailed certificate with complete information about the program will be provided.

Fees (incl. 22% VAT)Students from VIU’s member universities: € 400Students from other universities: € 650Others: € 1000

The fees cover tuition, course materials, entrance tickets to museums and galleries (and guides) included in the program of activities, the welcome dinner and the farewell lunch. Accommodation and other meals are not included. Upon request the VIU office will provide information regarding accommodation options on campus and in Venice.

Location: Venice International University is situated in beautiful grounds on the island of San Servolo, which is 10 minutes by boat from the San Zaccaria (adjacent to Piazza San Marco). It is served by the public transport system (no. 20 vaporetto/water bus). Some events will take place in other venues.

Campus services include a self-service cafeteria, a café, wifi, computer rooms etc. Participants will have access to the VIU library.

Venice International University Isola di San Servolo 30100 Venice Italy T +39 041 2719511 F +39 041 2719510 E shss@univiu.org