B8063 - History and Media (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student possesses a professionalism related to the use of different types of media in the forms of representation, dissemination, and narration of history. S/he knows how to use media (iconographic, artistic, photocinematographic images, artistic and sound documents, architectural and urban testimonies) as historical sources; S/he is aware that media are tools for understanding a representation, and periods of different representation, of historical events; S/he knows how to recognize the contribution of media in contemporary languages of historical narration, with particular attention to museum and exhibition itineraries, documentary and fiction programmes, and digital and interactive projects.

Course contents

Television and History

From the 1950s to the present day, Italian television has been a significant protagonist in national history, actively participating in the country's major social, cultural, political, and economic transformations. Adopting a variety of methodologies and interpretive approaches, historical studies have examined not only the 'internal' history of the medium (including content, techniques, and forms of governance) but also its numerous relationships with the national and international media system, consumer society, the advertising market, major economic players, the public, political parties, social groups, technological development, and popular and mass culture.

This course will explore the relationship between television and history with a comparative and transnational approach. That relationship will be investigated through three distinct levels:

1. Television as historical source: numerous programs have, either explicitly or indirectly, reported on contemporary changes, events, and mentalities, effectively representing their time. These programs serve as witnesses of the past and now present themselves to historians as documents to be interrogated with the most appropriate methodologies.
   
2. Television as a means of narrating history: from the very beginning, television programming has dedicated space to representations of the past, especially events and periods that have had the greatest impact on the public. In doing so, it has complemented pre-existing means of disseminating knowledge of the past, both institutional and non-institutional, such as schools, universities, politics of memory, and the publishing market.
3. Television as an agent of history: television not only narrated history but also contributed to the 'construction' of history by influencing the opinions, beliefs, and ideas of a vast audience. It played a role in shaping behaviors, choices, and habits, both in the public sphere (e.g., political opinions and electoral choices) and in the everyday and private sphere (e.g., consumer cultures).

Readings/Bibliography

- Giovanni Gozzini, La mutazione individualista. Gli italiani e la televisione, 1954-2011, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2011

- Irene Piazzoni, Storia delle televisioni in Italia. Dagli esordi alle web tv, Carocci, Roma 2014

- Franco Monteleone, Storia della radio e della televisione in Italia. Costume, società e politica, Marsilio, Venezia 2021

Further readings:

- Giulia Guazzaloca, Una e divisibile. La RAI e i partiti negli anni del monopolio pubblico (1954-1975), Le Monnier, Firenze 2011

- Damiano Garofalo, Vanessa Roghi (a cura di), Televisione. Storia, Immaginario, Memoria, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli 2015

- Jérôme Bourdon, Il servizio pubblico. Storia culturale delle televisioni in Europa, Vita & Pensiero, Milano 2015 (da pag. 3 a pag. 102)

- Damiano Garofalo, Storia sociale della televisione in Italia. 1954-1969, Marsilio, Venezia 2018

- Aldo Grasso (a cura di), Fare storia con la televisione. L'immagine come fonte, evento, memoria, Vita e Pensiero 2006

- Monica Jansen, Maria Bonaria Urban (a cura di), Televisionismo. Narrazioni televisive della storia italiana negli anni della seconda Repubblica, (Disponibile online al seguente indirizzo: https://edizionicafoscari.unive.it/it/edizioni/libri/978-88-6969-044-0/ )

- Anna Bisogno, La storia in TV. Immagine e memoria collettiva, Carocci 2009

Teaching methods

After a few introductive lessons, the course will be articulated through lectures and seminars discussions. Students are expected to participate actively by attending all lessons, reading the assignated texts and take an active part in class discussions. Assessment methods

Assessment methods

STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SEMINAR

Students who attend at least 12 lessons are considered to be attending.

Students are required to participate actively to all classes and to present the assigned text. They will further write two texts:

1. an essay of between 10,000 and 12,000 characters, with notes, analyzing a book indicated in the bibliography (or possibly a proposed text, but in any case relevant to the themes of the course), to be agreed upon with the teacher.
2. a report of between 8,000 and 10,000 characters analyzing a television source, also to be agreed upon with the teacher.

Both texts must take into account the discussions held in class.

Each text must be written in Word, with the student's last name included in the file name.

Reports must be submitted within two months of the end of the seminar cycle.

Evaluation will consider the consistency and quality of participation in seminar discussions.

FOR STUDENTS NOT ATTENDING AT LEAST 12 CLASSES OF THE SEMINAR, THE EXAM WILL BE ORAL

They will study:

a) Giovanni Gozzini, La mutazione individualista. Gli italiani e la televisione, 1954-2011, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2011

b) Irene Piazzoni, Storia delle televisioni in Italia. Dagli esordi alle web tv, Carocci, Roma 2014
OR
Franco Monteleone, Storia della radio e della televisione in Italia. Costume, società e politica, Marsilio, Venezia 2021

THE EVALUATION WILL RESULT FROM FOLLOWING ASSESSMENT SCALE:

Thorough in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with analytical and critical skills and command of the specific language, will qualify for top marks (30-30L).

A good grasp of the topics covered in the course, together with good critical analysis and command of the specific language, will qualify for high marks (27-29).

A more mechanical and less articulate grasp, and/or correct use of language though not always appropriate, will qualify for a medium-range mark (23-26).

Weak analytical capacity and frequently inappropriate language – together with some knowledge of exam material – will receive a pass mark or little more (18-22).

Mistakes of spelling and syntax (by native Italian students) will be heavily penalized, as befits a university examination, especially in a humanistic subject.

 

Exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year:

- January
- March
- June
- July
- September
- November

Teaching tools

During frontal lessons the teacher will use power point presentations and audiovisual sources.

 

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Alessio Gagliardi