B1881 - Media Languages and Genres (1) (A-L)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student is able to understand the main languages and genres that characterize communication on television and digital media, including information, entertainment, seriality; to identify the main forms of hybridization of contemporary audiovisual and media communication (eg docu-series, infotainment, fragment, direct, etc.); to reflect on the forms of convergence between traditional and digital media.

Course contents

The first part of the course will delve into the definition of medium and trace some trajectories of analysis of the contemporary media system. In this phase, students will be exposed to the most relevant theories, methods of analysis, and languages of the mediated communication.

The second part of the course will apply these notions to a variety of media spaces, forms, and genres, focusing in particular on audio-visual and digital media. The objective is to highlight: (1) the textual and contextual characteristics of a selection of media objects, (2) the innovations and continuity in genres and languages between legacy media and digital media, (3) the relationships with production and consumption practices, and (4) the dialogue between the media and the contemporary sociocultural context.

Readings/Bibliography

Non attending students must prepare the following bibliography:
- Michael Z. Newman, Media. Una cassetta degli attrezzi, edizione italiana a cura di Luca Barra e Simone Natale, Einaudi, Torino 2023.
- Marshall McLuhan, Intervista a Playboy, edizione italiana a cura di Luca Barra, Franco Angeli, Milano 2013.

Attending students will be given specific instruction on the assigned reading material on the first day of class.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures supported by slides, audiovisual and digital materials, shared with the students. The course will also host seminaries with experts in the media industry.

Assessment methods

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

The exam is different for attending and non-attending students. Students who have attended at least 80% of the lessons (12 lessons out of 15) will be considered attending students.

For attending students, the written test will include 31 multiple choice questions, in a reserved roll call at the end of the course. If an attending student does not wish to participate in the reserved exam session, or if she/he wants to refuse the grade received during this session, she/he will have to take the exam as a non-attending student (and study the non-attending student readings).

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).

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 theory and 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 and theory 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 other content, links, and resources available online, meetings with professionals.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Barra