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.
Sandro Bernardi, L'avventura del cinematografo. Storia di un'arte e di un linguaggio, Venezia, Marsilio, 2013 ed ediz. succ.
Federico Pierotti, Federico Vitella (a cura di), Il cinema dello sguardo. Dai Lumière a Matrix, Venezia, Marsilio, 2019.
Learning Objectives
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.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of modern and contemporary history and art history.
Teaching Methods
Lessons in the presence of the teacher (within the limits established by the University) with image, film and video analysis.
In any case, remote attendance will remain possible for students.
Further information
Mandatory course enrollment through e-learning website moodle.
PASSWORD: edison
The password will be valid until December 3rd, 2021.
Type of Assessment
Oral test (in local or remote mode), as it will be established by the University of Florence and the Faculty of Humanities.
The oral test will consist of 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 oral test will be about twenty minutes long. The grade will be communicated after the test.
Course program
1. Cinema and visual culture: an introduction
2. The objects of visual studies: images, gazes, media, devices.
3. From cinema to moving images.
4. Outlines of film history.
5. Outlines of film analysis.