96373 - Television and Digital Media History. Fundamentals (1) (G-N)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student: knows the fundamental notions of the history of television and digital media platforms from their origins to the contemporary years; understands the historical, economic, technological and social reasons that have influenced the development of television both as a digital media and a communication device; knows how to place representative products, genres and formats in their cultural context.

Course contents

The institutional component of the course is devoted to the history of Italian television, examined at the intersection of its technological, political, industrial, social, and cultural dimensions.

The course traces the major stages in the development of television in Italy, focusing on the key moments that have shaped the current media landscape. Adopting a historical and critical perspective, it examines the transformation of institutions, production models, regulatory frameworks, and audience practices, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolution of Italian television from its origins to the contemporary digital environment.

Particular attention is devoted to the analysis of the major television formats and genres, combining the historical perspective with key concepts in audiovisual media, including broadcasting, public service broadcasting, commercial television, scheduling, streaming, and on-demand services.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students

• Luca Barra, Paola Brembilla, Veronica Innocenti, La televisione italiana. Storia, generi e linguaggi, Pearson, Milan, 2024.
• Lecture slides and class notes.

The required textbook is to be studied only in the sections and according to the instructions provided by the instructor during the course. Lecture slides and class notes also form part of the examination materials for attending students.

 

Non-attending students

• Luca Barra, Paola Brembilla, Veronica Innocenti, La televisione italiana. Storia, generi e linguaggi, Pearson, Milan, 2024.

The textbook is to be studied in its entirety.

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities: we recommend you get in touch as soon as possible with the University office and with the professor in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Teaching methods

The course includes frontal lessons with the support of slides, audiovisuals, digital sources, and other materials which will be shared with the students.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written test, during which the student’s knowledge of the history of television and digital media will be assessed. There will be no oral tests.

 

ATTENDING STUDENTS
For attending students, the written test will include 31 multiple choice questions, in a reserved roll call at the end of the weeks of lectures.

Important: for those who take the entire examination of “Television and Digital Media” (12 CFU) or “History of Radio and Television” (12 CFU), the grade will be averaged with that of the lab module.

 

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
For non-attending students, the written test will consist of 21 multiple choice questions (1 point each) and 2 open questions (up to 5 points each).

Important: for those who take the entire examination of “Television and digital media” (12 CFU) or “History of Radio and Television” (12 CFU), the evaluation of this part will be joint with that of the lab module, in a single test.

 

Use of GenAI
AI can be a useful tool to support individual study through in-depth analysis, summaries, and self-assessment pathways.
With regard to the assessment of learning, the use of AI during the in-person exam is prohibited. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the University office in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the professor, who will assess their appropriateness in relation to the teaching objectives.

It will be assessed as excellent the performance of those students achieving an organic vision of the course contents, the use of a proper specific language, and the ability to connect the history of media with the social and cultural context. It will be assessed as discrete the performance of those students showing mostly mechanical or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, not articulated synthesis and analysis capabilities, a correct but not always appropriate language, as well as a scholastic study of the discipline. It will be assessed as barely sufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language, lack of knowledge of the history of media. It will be assessed as insufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language, no orientation within the recommended bibliography and inability to analyse the subject.

To take the examination, students shall register in the list by AlmaEsami service. Non-enrolled students will be excluded from the test. The exam will be held in well-equipped computer classrooms: to rationalise their use, if students registered decide not to sit the examination, they are required to cancel their name from the exam list. Students are also required to sit the examination with their UniBo credentials and a recognition document.

Teaching tools

Presentations, projection of audiovisual material, use of clips and archival content, use of YouTube, Rai Play and digital platforms, links and resources available online, meetings with professionals.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Brembilla