28147 - History of Acting (1) (2nd cycle)

Academic Year 2020/2021

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Music and Theatre Studies (cod. 8837)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Course the student will have acquired knowledge about the theory and practice of the art of acting in history, particularly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and in the contemporary world; - skills for the study and analysis of both reciting and performing modes of past and present; - methodological tools for reading the sources also from the point of view of the gender.

Course contents

FUNDAMENTALS OF THE HISTORY OF THE ACTOR/ACTRESS AND A CASE STUDY BETWEEN THEATRE AND CINEMA

In the historical part, we will address the theoretical-methodological problems related to the study of the actor/actress in the Italian-French and English area, from the birth of professionalism with the Commedia dell’arte to the end of the twentieth Century, always keeping in mind the gender cathegory. In addition to changes in ideas, techniques, theories, we will study the materiality of the trade, the micro-societies of the actors, some leading actors/actresses.

The monographic part focuses on the relationship between theatre and cinema through a case study: the show Vita agli arresti di Aung San Suu Kyi (2014) by Marco Martinelli and Ermanna Montanari, which became a film in 2017. We will start from the film text to identify continuity and differences with the show, focusing on acting, directing and their relationship. We will then analyze two subsequent films by Martinelli: The Sky over Kibera (2019), “putting to life” of the Divine Comedy in Nairobi with very young non-actors, and Er (2020), the construction of an intense portrait of an actress through video materials already existing. Why are these films not filmed theatre despite having an explicit and claimed theatre substance? This is the question that will guide us.

Course begins April 7, 2021.

Timetable: Wednesdays , Thursdays, Fridays 15-17h (Aula Donatoni)

Readings/Bibliography

Claudio Meldolesi, Pensare l'attore, Bulzoni, Roma 2013

Laura Mariani, L'Ottocento delle attrici, “Acting Archives Review", 2017, n. 14 www.actingarchives.it

Laura Mariani, Dopo l'Ottocento delle attrici, qualche punto fermo sulle attrici italiane del Novecento, "Italica Wratislaviensia"", 2019, vol. 10

Laura Mariani, Il teatro nel cinema. Tre film di Marco Martinelli e Ermanna Montanari, luca sossella editore, Bologna 2021

Non-attending students must read: Laura Mariani, Do, undo, do over. Ermanna Montanari in Teatro delle Albe, Titivillus, Corazzano 2017

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars, particularly about finding and reading various source texts. Formation of working groups. In-house projection of films and video recordings, meeting artists.

Assessment methods

The final oral exam will assess the basic knowledge of the subject from a historical, theoretical and methodological point of view. The ability to analyze the performance of an actor starting from images, texts and live experiences will be verified and participation in group work and possible papers produced will also be evaluated.

Teaching tools

These include face-to-face lessons accompanied by audiovisual materials, working groups, meetings with artists and watching performances.

Office hours

See the website of Anna Laura Mariani

SDGs

Gender equality

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.