Italian Program Celebrates the 200th Birthday of Pinocchio's Author With New Course

The Italian Program at the U of A is celebrating the 200th birth of Carlo Collodi, author of Pinocchio, born in Florence on Nov. 26, 1826. Pinocchio, the story of a wooden puppet who becomes a real boy, is far from the myth of Disney's cartoon-version. In fact, its meaning is still debated today: is it a tale about the Italian educational system, a metaphor for the unification of Italy or maybe a story of morals and maturity? This course will explore these interpretations and many more. Join us to explore the text and its many manifestations in this one-credit, eight-week course (Oct. 7 - Dec. 3, 2026) on Wednesdays from 3:05 - 4:45 p.m.  Questions? Email Prof. Calabretta-Sajder (calabret@uark.edu).

Enroll today in WLLC 3980v: Special Studies "Truth, Trickery and Transformation: Pinocchio as Cultural Mirror."

Course Overview: This eight-week seminar traces Collodi's Pinocchio from its original 1883 novel through its evolving afterlives in film adaptations, illustrated editions, manuscripts and contemporary cultural representations. Students will examine how the puppet's journey of deception, punishment and transformation has been continually reimagined to reflect shifting ideas about childhood, morality and Italian national identity.