CODE 121415 ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/2027 CREDITS 6 cfu anno 1 MEDIA, INFORMAZIONE ED EDITORIA 12131 (LM-19 R) - GENOVA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR GSPS-04/B TEACHING LOCATION GENOVA SEMESTER 2° Semester OVERVIEW Ever since the dawn of the ‘seventh art’, cinema and history have forged deep ties. This refers not only to historical films, which seek to reinterpret and make sense of the past, but also to the increasingly conscious use of films as audiovisual sources for history. Documentaries, meanwhile, deserve a discussion of their own; by definition, they aim for realism and seek to capture events in their ‘authenticity’. Building on these premises, the course aims to critically revisit some crucial turning points of the twentieth century through the lens of cinema and television, drawing primarily on the analytical tools provided by scholars of Cultural History and Public History, and comparing the various narratives with contemporary historiographical insights. AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The aim of the course is to equip students with the methodological tools and skills required to critically analyze historical narratives presented by television and cinema, and to use audiovisual sources rigorously and scientifically in historical reconstructions. AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES Provide students the analytical tools needed to understand the dynamics of international politics, foster a critical approach to events, help them handle audiovisual sources, teach to conduct research with scientific methodology and rigor. PREREQUISITES Knowledge of 20th-century history TEACHING METHODS The course consists of 18 sessions, each lasting 2 hours, during which sequences from documentaries and feature films will be analyzed, and opportunities for discussion and exchange will be provided. Students are also required to submit an individual research paper on topics assigned in class. SYLLABUS/CONTENT The program includes an analysis of some crucial points in 20th-century history, comparing historical events, historiographical debate, and cinematic narratives. RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY Recommended reading: Mario Alberto Banti, Le questioni dell’età contemporanea, Laterza 2025; Visioni d’Europa L’identità europea attraverso il cinema e i media audiovisivi, “Cinema e Storia”, special issue, 2026; Cinema e politica internazionale nel Secolo breve, Rubbettino, forthcoming. TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD GUIDO LEVI Ricevimento: Tuesday 10.00-12.00. Exam Board GUIDO LEVI (President) LESSONS LESSONS START February 2027 Class schedule The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy FURTHER INFORMATION Students with a certified diagnosis of a specific learning difficulty (DSA), a disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the course coordinator, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the lecturer at the start of the course to agree on teaching and examination arrangements which, whilst respecting the course objectives, take into account individual learning styles and provide appropriate support measures. To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam. Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it). Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected.
