The course aims to provide an adequate knowledge of cinematic and audio-visual language, in its development from the origins of cinema to the present day. In order to allow a critical approach of analysis that takes into account the most important historical and theoretical turning points.
The course aims to provide suitable tools for analyzing the audiovisual text, leading to an advanced understanding of it, through the knowledge of the historical developments in language, technology, theory and poetics of cinema, from its origins to the advent of digitalisation.
The course consists of an institutional part devoted to the fundamental stages of the evolution of cinematic art, and a monographic part, that will explore in more detail the notions acquired through the study of the works of a single author.
Lectures, screenings and textual analyses
AULAWEB: Yes
The course is structured through lectures that will also include screenings of movies, or movie clips, which will be analyzed and discussed.
The institutional part of the course will examine the history of cinema from the pioneering era, to the formation and consolidation of cinematic language, and then the establishment of a Hollywood "koiné", the so-called "classical cinema", which was able to impose on different national film industries. The cinema of the historic avant-garde will be considered, as well as the neo-avant-garde of "modern cinema", which intends to question and overcome the film's classicism. Finally, the innovations and problems posed by the digital revolution will be discussed.
The monographic part will be devoted to Stanley Kubrick's films, with particular reference to his first production, understood as a peculiar and problematic synthesis of instances coming both from classicism and cinematic modernity.
STUDY TEXTS
Film history.
A film history book:
either
Storia del cinema. Un'introduzione, K. Thompson e D. Bordwell, McGraw-Hill Education, Milano, 2014
or
Manuale di storia del cinema, G. Rondolino, D. Tomasi, Utet Università, Torino, 2014
Monographic part on Stanley Kubrick:
La trappola del testo. Sul primo Kubrick, S. Zumbo, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2018
Recommended reading (not mandatory):
Invito al cinema di Kubrick, R. Eugeni, Mursia, Milano, 2016
Stanley Kubrick, M. W. Bruno, Gremese Roma, 2017
Kubrick, M. Ciment, Milano, Rizzoli, 1999
Il mondo di Kubrick. Cinema, estetica, filosofia, R. Lasagna, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2014
Stanley Kubrick. L’uomo dietro la leggenda, V. LoBrutto, Il Castoro, Milano, 2009
Ricevimento: Either after the class or by appointment.
SAVERIO ZUMBO (President)
FEDERICO RAHOLA
Second half.
IMAGE AND COMMUNICATION
Oral exam. Commentary on the films relating to the institutional part and to the monographic one. Commentary on the development of cinematic language with reference to the most important theories and movements.
An audio-visual work, a "video essay"(maximum length: ten minutes) reprocessing the information learned, may be submitted. In this case, the work will be considered and discussed as an integral part of the exam. (The attendance at the workshop held by dr. Diego Scarponi is, for this purpose, strongly recommended. The teacher is to be contacted by e-mail for registrations: diego.scarponi@unige.it).
The full list of films to be analysed for the exam will be communicated through “AulaWeb”. Two computer wokstations are available in the campus film library.
KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING: Students will acquire an adequate knowledge of the cinematographic and audiovisual language, considered in its evolution over time.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING: Students will be able to analyze effectively, and with critical awareness, cinematic and audio-visual products.
AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT: The development of critical thinking regarding the audiovisual production is a crucial goal of the course.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Students will be able to speak about audiovisual media with good historical, technical and theoretical expertise.
LEARNING ABILITY: The course aims to develop students' self-learning skills, in order to promote their future professional development.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
For non-attending students, the following additional reading will be required:
Teorie del cinema. Il dibattito contemporaneo, A. D’Aloia, R. Eugeni, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, 2017
OBLIGATIONS: As for the institutional part, at least four films among the ones screened in class are to be viewed and analysed. (The complete list can be asked via e-mail to the teacher and will be published on “AulaWeb”). The viewing and analysis of the following Stanley Kubrick’s films will be required as well: Killer’s Kiss (1955), The Killing (1956), Paths of Glory (1957), Lolita (1962)
STUDY TEXTS: The same texts as for frequenting students, and in addition: Teorie del cinema. Il dibattito contemporaneo, A. D’Aloia, R. Eugeni, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, 2017
