Pinocchio Unstrung: Story of a Puppet in the New Millennium

In this course we will first explore the historical background surrounding Pinocchio, including its publication history and the state of Italian children’s literature in the unification period. We will then look at various approaches to the text, from (post)structuralist, psychoanalytic and theological interpretations, to then connect the novel to contemporary issues related to ecocriticism, animal studies, posthumanism, and the digital revolution. After reading the novel, the focus will shift to scrutinizing various modern and contemporary retellings, aiming to unravel the relevance of the “Pinocchio myth” today. This prompts an inquiry into the persisting presence of Pinocchio in Western culture and invites contemplation on the reasons behind its continual resurgence. Taught in English.