OVERVIEW

The course is an introduction to the objects of study and methodologies of analysis of visual culture studies, and It aims to provide a set of useful tools for describing and interpreting the contemporary media and visual scenario.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course represents an introduction to the objects of study and to the analysis methodologies of visual studies. Starting with cinema, taken as an exemplary territory, the course aims to provide a series of useful tools to describe and interpret the contemporary media and visual scenario with awareness.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide students with the tools to understand the contemporary media horizon, to analyze visual and audiovisual texts and to problematize the political, social and cultural role of the media and their discourses.

At the end of the course the student will: 1) learn about the history and theory of visual studies; 2) be able to analyze visual and audiovisual texts; 3) know how to interpret the social and cultural role of the media; 4) be able to describe, analyze and contextualize media, visual and audiovisual content; 5) possess the ability to move critically within the history of the media.

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

PREREQUISITES

The course requires solid basic knowledge of 20th century history, contemporary art history, film history and the history of photography.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons will be held in presence.

The development of a final written test, in which the student is asked to elaborate on a topic from the acquired notions, will allow work on basic level alphabetical-functional competence.

Students with disabilities or DSAs are reminded that in order to request adaptations in the exam, they must first enter their certification on the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the "Students" section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and DSA Sector (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111).
Subsequently, at least 10 days before the date of the exam, an e-mail must be sent to the teacher with whom you will take the exam, including in the knowledge copy both the School's Teacher Referent for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with DSA (Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above. The e-mail should specify: the name of the teaching; the date of the call; the student's last name, first name and roll number; the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures deemed functional; and required.  The contact person will confirm to the lecturer that the applicant is entitled to apply for adaptations in the examination and that these adaptations must be agreed upon with the lecturer. The lecturer will respond by informing whether the requested adaptations can be used. Requests should be sent at least 10 days before the date of the call in order to allow the lecturer(s) to evaluate the content. In particular, in case you intend to make use of maps conceptual maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for studying) if the submission does not meet the deadline there will not be the technical time needed to make any changes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course aims to offer a general presentation of visual studies through the analysis of some key terms of this relatively recent area. At the same time, the course will dwell in detail on the theoretical contribution of some of the main scholars of the visual studies field.

The course is enhanced by a series of seminars with leading Italian scholars of visual culture and image and media theory.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• B. Grespi, L. Malavasi, Dalla parte delle immagini. Temi di cultura visuale, McGraw-Hill, Milano, 2022
• R. Eugeni, La condizione postmediale. Media, linguaggi, narrazioni, La Scuola, Brescia, 2015
• W.J.T. Mitchell, Pictorial Turn. Saggi di cultura visuale, Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano, 2017
• B. Grespi, F. Villa, Il postfotografico. Dal selfie alla fotogrammetriua digitale (only the third part, "Politiche")
• Essays uploaded on AulaWeb

Non attending students should add:

• R. Coglitore (a cura di), Cultura visuale. Paradigmi a confronto, Duepunti Edizioni, Palermo, 2008

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LUCA MALAVASI (President)

GABRIELE RIGOLA

LESSONS

LESSONS START

24th February 2025

Class schedule

CINEMA AND VISUAL CULTURE (LM)

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral and written exam

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1) Oral exam designed to test a solid knowledge of the constituent aspects of visual studies

2) A written paper on a topic agreed with the professor, relating to one of the contents covered during the course. Instructions for the written paper are available on AulaWeb.