72810 - Media Cultures of Anglophone Countries (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to investigate the elements that characterize the media cultures of English-speaking countries. At the end of the course students: - have learned the characterizing elements of Anglophone cultures; - are able to put the domestic media structure in a comparative perspective with the models coming from Anglophone countries; - have the tools to investigate the literary, cinematographic, television and musical production of Anglophone countries.

Course contents

British cinema in the 1960s was enormously successful, with international recognition, but it also marked the beginning of a period of crisis. In any case, it is an excellent way to get close to the British culture of a decade in which Britain had lost its dominant position among the great powers but had gained unchallenged dominance in the cultural field, particularly in youth culture.

Readings/Bibliography

Films

Free Cinemaand beyond

O Dreamland (L. Anderson, 1953) e Momma don’t allow (K. Reisz e T. Richardson, 1956)

Look back in Anger (T. Richardson, 1959)

A Taste of Honey (T. Richardson 1961)

This Sporting Life (L. Anderson, 1963)

 

Towards the Sixties

Room at the Top (J. Clayton, 1959)

Saturday Night Sunday Morning (K.Reisz, 1960)

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (T. Richardson, 1962)

Billy Liar (J. Schlesinger, 1963)

 

Hollywood, England

Dracula (T. Fisher, 1958)

Dr No (T. Young, 1962)

Tom Jones (T. Richardson, 1963)

The Ipcress File (S. Furie, 1965)

 

Music and cinema

A Hard Day’s Night (R. Lester, 1964)

Charlie is my Darling (P. Whitehead, 1965)

Privilege (P. Watkins, 1967)

Performance (D. Cammell/N. Roeg, 1970)

Gimme Shelter (Albert & David Maysles, 1970)

 

Swinging London and its films

The knack (and how to get it) (R. Lester, 1964)

Darling (J. Schlesinger, 1965)

Alfie (L. Gilbert, 1965)

Blow-up (M. Antonioni, 1966)

Georgy Girl (S. Narizzano, 1966)

 

The awakening

Morgan, a suitable case for treatment (K. Reisz, 1966)

Poor Cow (K. Loach, 1967)

If... (L. Anderson, 1968)

Wonderwall (Joe Massot, 1968)

 

 

Critical texts

Roberto Bertinetti, Dai Beatles a Blair: la cultura inglese contemporanea, capp. 1, 2, 3, Roma, Carocci, 2001, pp. 7-86

Emanuela Martini, Storia del cinema inglese, Venezia, Marsilio, 1991, capitoli 13, 14 e 15, pp. 251-319.

Lucio Spaziante, Dai beat alla generazione dell'Ipod, Roma, Carocci, 2010, capitoli 1, 2, pp. 11-76.

 

Additional bibliographical material will be published on Virtuale before the end of the lectures.

Assessment methods

Oral exam (15-20 minutes).
In the oral exam the students are asked to choose five films from the list above and find an itinerary within the English cinema of the 1960s. Or alternatively select one of the groups.
The oral exam will assess the critical and methodological skills developed by the student, who will be asked to discuss the materials analysed during the course. The student's attainment of an organic vision of the topics addressed in class and the demonstration of the possession of an expressive mastery will be assessed with marks of excellence. Mostly mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, unarticulated synthesis and analysis skills and/or language that is correct but not always appropriate will lead to fair marks; formative gaps and inappropriate language will be assessed negatively.

Teaching tools

Computer, projector, screen.

Office hours

See the website of Gino Scatasta