The ideas you learn about are really cool, but warning: Lectures are super confusing. You need to watch the movies he assigns, and you don't have to read the books/pdfs online IF you go to class, because he did discuss the readings but didn't put them in his powerpoints. Homework/tests seemed hard, but he grades easy, b/c he DOES want you to pass
This seminar was pointless. The TA Brian was amazing but Fogu didn't make sense half the time and I really have no idea what I was supposed to have gained from that class. All of the reading and lectures were repetitive and Fogu never did anything, he just split us into groups and had us discuss the readings with each for 2 hrsweek. Don't take it!
He is very knowledgeable about the subject. However, its hard to follow without enough background introduction and topics' connections.
He was great but the material was dry. I did not particularly enjoy the books. If your Italian is advanced I would take it. Although if your Italian is not that great he is very helpful.
He is really passionate about the subject. Sometimes he forgets students are not as well informed as him. The books took forever to read but if you go to class he helps clarify the material.
Professor Fogu is a great speaker and attendance is mandatory or you will be completely lost because the power points are pretty confusing. Decent class to take. 2 quizzes (easy), a reaction paper, 1 midterm and final (both ids).
Hard to follow along. His lectures are dry and kind of unclear. A lot of the learner and piecing together of concepts I did myself. More of a history class than culture class. Once you get to the culture lectures, at the end of the quarter, the class got more interesting. Medium difficulty level. Fogu just makes it hard to follow and grasp concepts
I was amazed to stumble into this class on Southern Italy, a very unusual subject, taught by a man who has thought about it and knows everything. I recorded the lectures (because there is more than you can get just listening casually). Not an easy class, but one of the best I have ever taken. If you are going to Italy, you will be well-prepared.
Reading is required and lectures should also be attended. Prof expects effort to be put into assignments but is willing to talk and assist students with questions.
Fogu is such a great teacher. He's very passionate and a fair grader. There is a bit of reading but going to lecture definitely helps clarify. Helpful in office hours too. I would definitely take another one of his classes.
Difficult at times. Lectures are dry. Midterm was graded quite difficultly. Eased up on the final paper.
An interesting professor, however the paper topics are unclear and the papers were graded tough. He is helpful in office hours, but lectures are often boring/hard to follow. Good class, but his expectations are very high.
Came in knowing nothing about Italian culture, this guy is definetely interesting. He was intimidating to me at first, but it's only cas he's so darn smart. Lectures dry at times, I think it's just the course though. Take him, he's cool.
Easily the most interesting lecture I have ever attended
Took this class completely randomly, and i'd maybe say it was the best class i have taken in my 3 years here. Just plain interesting and if you read a good amount you will do fine.
Great Prof, cares about what he teaches and cares about his students. Motivates you to think, very intellectual, and philosophical. classes get a little hard to follow sometimes but he is always willing to help, grades papers pretty easy also.
Fogu is such a nice guy. He genuinely wants his students to do well, and he will be very helpful with questions. Sometimes lectures are unclear, but he does his best to convey the point. There were 2 papers that felt very hard but were graded pretty easily and a final that was very simple. Take this class if you're interested!
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Basically one of the hardest history classes you'll ever take. Theres a LOT of reading, lectures are unclear, and concepts aren't conveyed well. But he's really nice and can be quite helpful in office hours. And he said next time he teaches it he'll show films once a week, so I think the class will be much different next time...
The first half of this class is a historical account of all Italy's history and then towards the end he finally gets into the culture part of the course. A ton ton ton of reading. He genuinely wants his students to do well and is nothing but avaliable and helpful for office hours but does have high expectations.
