OVERVIEW

Since the 1990s, studies of visual culture have defined a series of methodological approaches and tools that are particularly useful to better understand the problem of incessant production and circulation of visual contents in contemporary society. The course requires solid basic knowledge of 20th century history, history of contemporary art and history of cinema and photography. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Analysing and historicising the knowledge of theoretical reflection on the aesthetic, linguistic and philosophical statute of cinematographic images in the framework of a wider 20th century reflection on images and viewing. 

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning the main junctures of the history and theory of contemporary cinema and methodological analyses from the field of visual studies. 

PREREQUISITES

Cinema and Art history

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

First part: cinema in the framework of contemporary digital society and media culture; introduction to the field of visual culture studies.

Second part: the course explores the theoretical debate and the artistic production between the Seventies and Eighties of the Twentieth Century (with particular reference to Italy)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

- A. Pinotti, A. Somaini, Cultura visuale. Immagini, sguardi, media, dispositivi, Einaudi, Torino, 2016

- C. Marra, Fotografia e pittura nel Novecento (e oltre), Bruno Mondadori, Milano, 2012 (chapters 8 and 9)

- N. Leonardi, Fotografia e materialità in Italia. Franco Vaccari, Mario Cresci, Guido Guidi, Luigi Ghirri, Postmedia, Milano, 2013

- A. Madesani, Le icone fluttuanti. Storia del cinema d'artista e della videoarte in Italia, Bruno Mondadori, Milano, 2002 (chapters 5 and 6)

- L. Malavasi, Postmoderno e cinema. Nuove prospettive d'analisi, Carocci, Roma, 2017 (chapters 1 and 2)

- Saggi caricati su AulaWeb

The non-attending students should add:

- V. Flusser, Per una filosofia della fotografia, Bruno Mondadori, Milano, 2006

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LUCA MALAVASI (President)

LIVIA CAVAGLIERI

LESSONS

Class schedule

THEORIES OF IMAGE FILM

EXAMS

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. Oral exam aimed at assessing knowledge of the constituent elements of contemporary mediality with particular reference to the role of new technologies and new viewing devices.
2. A mini-dissertation on a film chosen from those in the exam filmography (indications on writing and sending the assignment are available on AulaWeb).

Exam schedule