This module explores perceptions of identity in Renaissance Italy, bringing recent perspectives to the compelling thesis of Renaissance man’s individuality in Burkhardt’s foundational "The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy" (1860). The focus is especially on how identity could be construed, or socially, politically, and culturally constructed, by individuals or groups, through theatre and the rich culture of the princely courts. We will examine Castiglione’s "Il cortegiano" (1528), which provides a subtle portrait of the court of Urbino and of the multifarious roles played by the ideal courtier. Theatrical works by Bibbiena, Ariosto and the Intronati of Siena will provide a further basis for exploring the complex dynamics involved in ‘self-fashioning’, from dress and leisure pursuits to more challenging issues of imitation and dissimulation. Students will explore the aesthetics and ethics of performance, debates on nobility, linguistic issues, class and political identity, gender play, and also attitudes to sociability and humour.