B029036 - CINEMA AND VISUAL CULTURE

Italian

The course will offer insight into the history of cinema as a part of a larger set of media practices, technologies and social uses, including forms of entertainment, scientific research, practical application and military use. Objective of the course is to invite students to reflect about the role cinema has played in the development of Western modernity and postmodernity, as well as to understand parts of visual culture needed to a historical analysis of cinema.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

One book selected from the following (only indicated chapters):
• Sandro Bernardi, L'avventura del cinematografo. Storia di un'arte e di un linguaggio, Venezia, Marsilio, 2013, cap. 1, cap. 2, cap. 3, cap. 5, cap. 6 (pp. 94-110), cap. 7 (pp. 122-139), cap. 8 (pp. 143-162), cap. 9 (pp. 170-188), cap. 10 (pp. 195-211), cap. 11 (pp. 218-233], cap. 14.
• Kristin Thompson, David Bordwell, Storia del cinema: un’introduzione, edizione italiana a cura di Elena Mosconi e David Bruni, Milano, McGraw-Hill, Milano, 2018, cap. 1, cap. 2, cap. 3, cap. 4 (pp. 56-62), cap. 5 (pp. 63-74), cap. 6, cap. 8, cap. 11, cap. 12, cap. 15 (pp. 265-277), cap. 16 (pp. 326-346). Obbligatorio per gli studenti DAMS e PROGEAS.

Suggested reference book on cinematographic language:
• Gianni Rondolino, Dario Tomasi, Manuale del film. Linguaggio, racconto, analisi, UTET, Torino, 2018.

Bibliography (part-time students)

In addition to the above mentioned book:
• Roberto Diodato, Antonio Somaini (a cura di), Estetica dei media e della comunicazione, il Mulino, Bologna, 2011, only the second part (Estetica dei media, pp. 147-328).

Knowledge and understanding. Basic familiarity with the history of cinema, from the beginning until today, with particular reference to the main periods (cinema of attractions, classical narrative cinema, post-classic cinema, digital cinema) and analytical categories (attraction/narration, analogic/digital, old and new media). Understanding of the major media practices, technologies and social uses of which cinema is part, as well as of their respective functions (entertainment, scientific research, technology).

Applying knowledge and understanding. Ability to put cinematic experience, language and apparatus into an historical perspective. To promote a discussion on the role that cinema played and plays in the development of Western modernity and postmodernity, as well as an understanding of parts of visual and material culture needed to a historical analysis of cinema

Making judgements. To encourage students to acquire a method of moving image analysis, with particular reference to capacity to think about production and reception background, social and historical uses, issues of authenticity and manipulation.

Communication. To use the appropriate terminology to the study of cinema and visual culture, as well as to communicate effectively knowledge related to the discipline.

Lifelong learning skills. Ability to think cinema within a historical epistemology, and acquisition of awareness about the history of cinema as cultural history. Ability to put into historical perspective the main features of contemporary cinema and new media.

Basic knowledge of modern and contemporary history and art history.

Lessons with image, film and video analysis.

Mandatory course enrollment through e-learning website moodle.
PASSWORD: edison

The password will be activated on September 18th 2018 and will be disabled at the end of the course (October 26th 2018).

The written test will consist of essay questions on the subjects included in the course content. The questions are randomly selected from a shortlist that will be published on the MOODLE website. The written test will be two hours long. Corrections to the written tests will be made within 15 days.

The course recalls the history of cinema from the beginning until today, with particular attention paid to the link between cinema, media, technologies and social uses. The history of cinema as a complex phenomenon: continuity and discontinuity between modern and postmodern visual culture. Comparison of representative models: cinema of attractions, classical narrative cinema, avant-garde cinema, art cinema, digital cinema and new media.
Subjects:
Introduction to the course
XIX Century visual culture
Early cinema
Cinema of attractions
Cinema of narrative integration
Avant-garde cinema
The transition to sound
Classical narrative cinema
European cinema and the auteur theory
Cinema and digital media
The crisis of narrative linearity
Cinema, surveillance and control