90103 - STORIA E TECNICA DEL CINEMA

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide a basic knowledge of the history of cinema, chiefly for a degree in cultural heritage. It includes a historical part concerning the most significant authors, the evolution of techniques, languages, and the dissemination of social imaginaries linked to the cinematographic industry. Another part of the course will be dedicated to the widespread social and cultural practices related to the cinematographic apparatus, such as the phenomena of home movies, or the documentation cinema. A final part will concern the issues related to the preservation and possible digitization of the cinematographic materials, as well as to the topics of cataloguing, managing and access to historical cinematographic heritage.

Course contents

he course aim to provide some critical analysis tools of the history of cinema. The course will explore some tools to analyze and understand audiovisual language (framing, editing, photography, sound) with particular attention to documentary and amateur cinema, and its links with other visual languages, in particular with photography.

The first part of the course will be dedicated to an introduction of the history of cinema and its languages: the main phases of its historical development will therefore be outlined with particular attention to the origins of the medium, to classic Hollywood cinema, to the avant-garde, to documentary and amateur cinema, to auteur cinema, with movie examples ranging from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. In this phase, reference will also be made to the analysis of the film image also in relation to the wider visual culture.

After this historical and linguistic introduction, the second part of the course will be dedicated to the monographic theme "Cinema and History" which will include a series of lessons and readings that the teacher will distribute during the course.

Finally, will address issues related to cinema as a cultural heritage, the conservation of film archives and their enhancement, with particular reference to the theme of their cataloging and digitization.

Readings/Bibliography

All students are required to prepare the texts in points A), B), C):


A) It requires the preparation of a manual:

-K. Thompson, D. Bordwell; Jeff Smith, Storia del cinema. Un'introduzione, Milano, Mc Graw Hill, 2022 (or previous editions). Only chapters 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 21; 22 should be prepared.

* By contacting the teacher before the exam, it is possible to agree on an alternative manual. 

 

B) Works on the conservation and cataloging of film and audiovisuals:

A. Giannarelli, O. Martini, E. Segna (a cura di), Il documento audiovisivo: tecniche e metodi per la catalogazione. Con le Regole Fiaf di catalogazione per gli archivi di film, Fondazione Archivio Audiovisivo del Movimento Operaio e Democratico – Assessorato alle politiche della cultura del turismo e dello spettacolo – Centro Audiovisivo Regione Lazio, Roma 1995. [only pp. 11-21; pp. 29-48 e pp. 55-70].


For only non-attending students is required the preparation of the following text:


C) Gian Piero Brunetta, L'Italia sullo schermo. Come il cinema ha raccontato l'identità nazionale, Roma, Carocci, 2020.

Filmography

At the beginning of the course, the teacher will also provide a list of films whose viewing will be considered fundamental for the preparation.

In this regard, only as an aid to the viewing of films the student can consult the following volume: G. Manzoli, G. Avezzù, C. Bisoni, M. Fadda, P. Noto, S. Pesce, 50 passi nella storia del cinema, Cue Press, Bologna 2018 (also available in digital interactive version on the publisher’s website at the following link: https://www.cuepress.com/).

 

 

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures and seminar lessons, as well as the viewing and analysis of audiovisual material that is an integral part of the program by the students.

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

 

Assessment methods

Preparation will be assessed on a final oral exam. The test will take place with an oral test consisting of at least three questions on authors, periods and languages of cinema whose knowledge was acquired during the course based on the works in point A of the bibliography and a discussion on the texts relating to conservative and methodological aspects which highlights the essential problems addressed (works in point B of the bibliography) as well as on issues relating to the monographic part of the course (knowledge of which will have been acquired through notes and supplementary materials possibly distributed by the teacher during the course or for non-attending students from the study of the work to point C of the bibliography.

The candidate must be able to correctly frame the languages, protagonists and events of the development of cinema in their historical-cultural context in relation to contemporary culture.For the part relating to works B it is required to know how to highlight the essential problems addressed in the volumes and the main conservation and methodological issues relating to film archives.

For all students, the final assessment will comply with the following indications in accordance with the University guidelines:

- insufficient grade: gaps in basic knowledge and inability to produce a correct interpretation of the texts and / or of the main theoretical and methodological issues.

- sufficient grade: possession of basic knowledge; mainly correct interpretation, but carried out with imprecision and little autonomy.

- good grade: possession of intermediate level knowledge; fully correct interpretation, but not always precise and autonomous.

- excellent grade: possession of high level knowledge; interpretation of problems not only correct but conducted with autonomy and precision. Excellent oral expression skills.

Teaching tools

Presentation of audio-visual material during classes, filmography.

 

Exam materials and further readings can be found online on UNIBO https://virtuale.unibo.it.

Reading lists and publications are available on Virtuale [https://virtuale.unibo.it/] . They can serve as preparatory materials for the course and can be useful to fill any gaps for those who have never had an approach to the Byzantine Art.

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special tools to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Raffaella Biscioni