OVERVIEW

The course addresses contemporary mediality, with particular reference to cinema and television seriality, from the 1990s to the present day. The course perspective focuses on historical and aesthetic aspects, as well as theoretical and cultural ones, alternating the study of the socio-cultural role of cinema and television seriality as media devices with the analysis of specific and particularly significant texts.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

To learn the main historical, theoretical, aesthetic, and cultural features of the history of contemporary cinema and television seriality; to develop the ability to recognize and analyze the main stylistic paradigms that define the narrative and aesthetics of contemporary cinema and television; to explore the nature of the contemporary media system.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide students with the tools to understand the cultural and aesthetic development of cinema, to analyze audiovisual texts, and to critically address the experience of media content.

By the end of the course, students will be expected to:

1. know the history and theory of contemporary cinema, contemporary television seriality, and media;
2. be able to analyze the functioning of film and television language;
3. be able to describe, analyze, and contextualize a film and a television series in relation to the contemporary media, social, and cultural landscape.

The course also includes the acquisition of basic-level literacy and functional skills.

PREREQUISITES

In order to approach the course successfully, students are expected to have a solid knowledge of film history and film criticism.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is held in person, through lectures.

The preparation of a final written assignment will allow students to work on basic-level literacy and functional skills.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders are reminded that, in order to request exam accommodations, they must first upload their certification to the University website at servizionline.unige.it, in the “Students” section. The documentation will be checked by the University Office for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders.

Subsequently, at least 10 days before the exam date, students must send an email to the instructor with whom they will take the exam, copying both the School Representative for the inclusion of students with disabilities and specific learning disorders, Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi, and the above-mentioned Office. The email must specify: the course name; the exam date; the student’s surname, name, and student ID number; the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures considered functional and requested.

The representative will confirm to the instructor that the applicant is entitled to request exam accommodations and that these accommodations must be agreed upon with the instructor. The instructor will reply stating whether the requested accommodations can be used.

Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the exam date in order to allow the instructor to assess their content. In particular, if students intend to use concept maps during the exam, these must be much more concise than the maps used for studying. If the submission does not respect the required timeframe, there will not be enough time to make any necessary changes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course addresses contemporary media, with particular reference to cinema and television seriality, from the digital turn to the present day. The historical path is enriched by specific references to film theory, narrative theory, and media theory. It also aims to develop students’ ability to recognize and analyze the main narrative, stylistic, and technological paradigms that define the aesthetics of contemporary media.

The first part of the course will be devoted to outlining, in general terms, the landscape of contemporary cinema and television seriality, against the backdrop of the radical restructuring of mediality driven by the digital revolution. The second part of the course will instead be devoted to the analysis of particularly significant authors, texts, movements, and phenomena. In this second part, the course will be enriched by contributions from external scholars.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• L. Malavasi, Il cinema contemporaneo. Caratteristiche, identità culturale, esperienza, UTET Università, Torino 2024
• V. Pravadelli, Dal classico al postmoderno al global. Teoria e analisi delle forme filmiche, Marsilio, Venezia 2019
• D. Cardini, Long TV. Le serie televisive viste da vicino, Unicopli, Milano 2017
• Full viewing of films and television series; the list is published on AulaWeb.

Non-attending students must also add:

• G. Grignaffini, A. Berardelli, Che cos’è una serie televisiva, Carocci, Roma 2017

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 2027

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral. In order to be admitted to the oral exam, students must submit a written assignment.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. The exam will consist of an oral interview designed to assess solid knowledge of the main aspects that characterize cinema, television, and the contemporary media system. The assessment criteria will be appropriately shared.

2. Preparation of a written essay-style assignment on a topic assigned by the instructor; all instructions regarding the writing and submission of the assignment are available on AulaWeb.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The following workshops are supplementary, non-compulsory activities associated with the course and allow students to earn credits in the area of Other Activities and Workshop Activities:

• Workshop in Film Criticism

• Workshop on Film Festivals and the Challenges of the Digital Era

• Workshop in Visual and Audiovisual Production

The workshop syllabi are published on the websites of the degree programmes in Humanities and in Modern Literature and Performing Arts.