96371 - Film Languages. Laboratory (1) (A-F)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the laboratory the student: has the analytical tools for studying the languages of cinema; knows how to analyze the narrative and stylistic structure of films; knows how to apply interpretive models to films and other audiovisual narratives.

Course contents

Resorting to examples taken from film history, this Lab (which is one of the two modules composing the course Film History and Language, together with the module Film History: Principles) provides the essential elements in order to be able to break down, analyze and read films and cinematography. Lectures will be enriched by practical activities.

Readings/Bibliography

- Giacomo Manzoli, Giorgio Avezzù, Claudio Bisoni, Michele Fadda, Paolo Noto, Sara Pesce, 50 passi nella storia del cinema, Cue Press, Bologna 2018.

- Gianni Rondolino e Dario Tomasi, Manuale del film. Linguaggio, racconto, analisi (third edition), UTET, Torino 2018.

Compulsory Filmography:

Nascita di una nazione (D.W. Griffith, 1915)

Nosferatu (F. W. Murnau, 1922)

Ottobre (S.M. Ejzenštejn, 1927)

La folla (K. Vidor, 1928)

M - il mostro di Düsseldorf (F. Lang, 1931)

Scarface (H. Hawks, 1932)

Ombre rosse (J. Ford, 1939)

Via col vento (V. Fleming, 1939)

Quarto potere (O. Welles, 1941)

Ladri di biciclette (V. De Sica, 1948)

Rashomon (A. Kurosawa, 1950)

La morte corre sul fiume (C. Laughton, 1955)

Fino all'ultimo respiro (J.-L. Godard, 1960)

Psycho (A. Hitchcock, 1960)

2001 Odissea nello spazio (S. Kubrick, 1967)

Playtime (J. Tati, 1967)

Blow up (M. Antonioni, 1966)

Teaching methods

Lectures, with analysis of significant film extracts and scenes, and practical activities to be carried out both in person and remotely. Students are encouraged to discuss both the themes and the materials presented during the lectures. Students registered in the teachers/students list who will be able to guarantee regular attendance are to be considered attending students.

Assessment methods

The final examination will cover the whole course of Film History and Language, where Film Language: Lab 1 is a module. The final examination will be a written test.

Attending students: students will be asked to test their preparation with short assessment questionnaires and practical activities during lecture hours (also used to keep track of attendance). Sitting these questionnaires and practical activities (passing them is not necessary) is binding in order to be able to take the final examination as an attending student.

The final exam test will be held within two weeks from the end of class, and it will assess the ability of the candidates to apply the analytical instruments acquired during the study of bibliography and the analysis of the filmography. The test will contain both multiple-choice questions, as well as open questions. The average grade for this module (Film Language: Lab 1) and the Film History: Principles module (see Assessment Methods) will be the final grade.

Non-attending students: non-attending students will be required to do all the exercises uploaded on the Virtuale platform before sitting the exam, and to send them to the lecturer a week before the exam. Handing in said exercises is binding in order to be able to take the final exam. Non-attending students will be tested on their historical knowledge (acquired in the module Film History: Principles, see course contents) and on their ability to apply analytical instruments as learned during this module, through the study of both bibliography and filmography. Both open questions and multiple-choice questions are possible.

(see Assessment Methods for Film Language: Lab 1.)

Students with certified learning disorders are allowed extra time to complete the test, and can discuss assessment methods according to the university’s policies in this matter. Students are asked to inform the course lecturer about any formal request in this regard when registering for the final exam, as well as to cc all correspondence regarding the subject to the services for disabled students and students with specific learning disabilities.

Students will be awarded excellent grades if they can prove the achievement of an organic vision of the course contents, the use of proper specific language, originality in their elaboration of the syllabus and the ability to link facts related to film history, as mentioned in the bibliography.

It will be assessed as discrete the performance of those students showing mostly 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, limited knowledge of film history, and inappropriate language.

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.

Teaching tools

Students are required to watch all the films listed in the filmography. For this purpose, they can access the Video Library of the Department of Arts (Via Barberia 4). Here, they will be able to book video stations or to borrow materials. In order to avoid too many bookings, students are invited to attend the video library well in advance, considering the date of the exam. Students who do not wish to access the Video Library are required to watch the whole filmography nonetheless by researching films autonomously (still well in advance).

Office hours

See the website of Claudio Bisoni