Cinema and Cultural Studies

A.Y. 2021/2022
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-ART/06
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims at introducing the elements of cultural studies to show their crucial role in the development of film studies since the 1970s. Focusing on the English-speaking, French and Italian literature (also with relation to other schools and theories), in the first part the main theoretical, methodological and ideological aspects of cultural studies will be addressed from a historical perspective, as well as their main topics, such as the revaluation of popular cinema, the issues of film reception and the relationship between cinema and identities (of gender, sex and post colonial ethnicity).
The second and third parts will focus on a particular subject chosen as a case study.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will have acquired a up-to-date awareness of cultural studies development and main issues involving cinema, and would be able to apply the cultural studies methodology to film history reckoning with the cultural contexts.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/22 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
Course syllabus
The course aims at introducing the elements of the Cultural studies to show their crucial role in the development of film studies since the 1970s. Focusing on the English-speaking, French and Italian literature (also with relation to other schools and theories), in the first part (A) the main theoretical, methodological and ideological aspects of Cultural studies will be addressed from a historical perspective, as well as their main topics and issues, such as the revaluation of popular cinema or the relationship between cinema and identities (of gender, sex and post colonial ethnicity).
The second and third parts (B and C) will focus on the relationships between the Italian right wing parties and cinema in the second postwar period, between Neorealism and the emergence of pornograhpy.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of contemporary history and of film history and language.
Teaching methods
The topics of the course will be addressed making the use of slides and audio-video materials analyzed during the lessons.
Teaching Resources
I. ATTENDING STUDENTS

Part A
Cristina Demaria, Siri Neergard, Studi culturali. Temi e prospettive a confronto, McGraw-Hill, Milano 2007, or Chris Barker, Emma A. Jane (eds), Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice, SAGE, London 2016.
Stuart Hall, Encoding and decoding in the television discourse, 1973 version (available on the course page on the website Ariel).
Stuart Hall, Cultural Identity and Cinematic Representation, «Framework», n. 36, 1989 (available online through the university library)

A book to be chosen from:
Richard Dyer, Star, Kaplan, Torino 2009 (ed. or., Stars, BFI, London 1977).
Richard Dyer, White, Routledge, London 2016.
Mauro Giori, Omosessualità e cinema italiano. Dalla caduta del fascismo agli anni di piombo, UTET, Torino 2019 (ed. or., Homosexuality and Italian Cinema, Palgrave, London 2017).
A.B. Saponari, F. Zecca (a cura di), Oltre l'inetto? Rappresentazioni plurali della mascolinità nel cinema italiano, Meltemi, Milano 2021.
Giacomo Manzoli, Da Ercole a Fantozzi. Cinema popolare e società italiana dal boom economico alla neotelevisione (1958-1976), Carocci, Roma 2013.
Janet Staiger, Media Reception Studies, New York University Press, New York 2005.
Shohini Chaudhuri, Feminist Film Theorists: Laura Mulvey, Kaja Silverman, Teresa de Lauretis, Barbara Creed, Routledge, London 2006.

Part B
Mauro Giori, Intorno a Luchino Visconti. Dieci sguardi eccentrici, UTET, Torino 2021 (Introduction and chapters 1, 3, 9 and 10).
The list of the films to be watched will be published on the course page on the website Ariel by the end of the course.

Part C
Mauro Giori, Forzuti, fusti, maggiorati: la destra, il peplum e una certa idea di maschilità, in G. Albert, G. Carluccio, G. Muggeo, A. Pizzo (eds), Ciao Maschio. Politiche di rappresentazione del corpo maschile nel Novecento, Rosenberg & Sellier, Torino 2019, pp. 135-154 (available on the course page on the website Ariel).


II. NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

In addition to the program for attending students:
Adalberto Baldoni, Gianni Borgna, Una lunga incomprensione. Pasolini fra destra e sinistra, Vallecchi, Firenze 2010, pp. 145-313.
Mauro Giori, Vecchi fusti e nuovi fusti: appunti su maschilità, cinema e destra radicale del dopoguerra, in A.B. Saponari, F. Zecca (eds), Oltre l'inetto? Rappresentazioni plurali della mascolinità nel cinema italiano, Meltemi, Milano 2021. 

A book to be chosen from:
Michele Cometa, Studi culturali, Guida, 2010.
James Procter, Stuart Hall e gli studi culturali, Cortina, Milano 2007 (ed. or., Stuart Hall, Routledge, London 2004)
Carlotta Sorba, Federico Mazzini, La svolta culturale. Come è cambiata la pratica storiografica, Laterza, Roma/Bari 2021.
Peter Burke, La storia culturale, Il Mulino, Bologna 2009.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an oral interview on the topics of the program and also on those addressed during the lessons. The exam intends to verify in particular the critical and logical-argumentative abilities of the student.
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher. International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher in a timely manner.
Unita' didattica
L-ART/06 - CINEMA, PHOTOGRAPHY AND TELEVISION - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Unita' didattica
L-ART/06 - CINEMA, PHOTOGRAPHY AND TELEVISION - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday, 1.30 p.m.
Via Noto 6