CINEMA AND VISUAL CULTURES

The course is part of the related and additional programmes included in the curriculum dedicated to contemporary arts for the Master’s degree in “History of Arts and Conservation of Artistic Heritage”. Its aim is to offer students a critical-theoretical study of the relationship between cinema, aesthetics and visual arts. The objectives of the course are: to teach students how to problematize their relationship with the objects they study or consume in every day’s life, such as films and audio-visual products, adopting an informed visual and cultural approach towards the current debate in the literature of this field; to enable students to reflect upon the paradigms and cultural constructs inherent in concepts such as “film”, “author”, “work of art”, “visual” etc.

1. Knowledge and comprehension: Ability to understand and analyze critical and theoretical texts dealing with cinema.
2. Ability to apply the acquired knowledge and comprehension: ability to write a critical essay or create a power point presentation using materials retrieved in the course textbooks or during lectures.
3. Judgment skills: ability to form personal interpretations based upon the knowledge of the course related critical-theoretical literature; a critical approach to the aesthetic, cultural and historical judgment of audio-visual artworks.
4. Communication skills: ability to participate in group discussions around the subjects of the course; ability to convey the specific nature of the theoretical and historical debate using an appropriate vocabulary, during the exam as well as during lectures; ability to interact with fellow students and with the lecturer in a critical and collaborative way, both in the classroom and through virtual electronic platforms.
5. Learning skills: ability to take notes and share them in a collaborative manner; ability to consult reference texts and the bibliography they contain in a critical manner.

It is advisable that students have attended courses in history of cinema, film theory or contemporary art theory (visual, performing arts or literature) either during their BA or during MA.

The course intends to retrace the stages of transformation in production, consumption, circulation and commercial mediation of art objects - a process that has become more intense since the advent of the digital era - through the observation point of the multi-year work of Abbas Kiarostami. Author of fictional films as well as documentaries, museum installations, photography exhibitions, experimental video art, plays etc, the renowned Iranian artist and director has turned all of his works into a testing ground for questioning and testing image theories (especially those concerning cinema) as well as forms of contemporary art practice. Recalling his works will enable students to reflect upon some tendencies that pervade the globalized milieu of art and media.

The final exam requires students to demonstrate their knowledge of the following textbooks:
- B. Grespi, L. Malavasi, "Dalla parte delle immagini. Temi di cultura visuale", McGraw-Hill, Milano 2022
- A selection of critical texts will be provided by the professor during lectures.

Students who will not be able to attend the course will have to read also one text between:
- H. Belting, "Antropologia delle immagini", Carocci, Roma 2011
- M. Cometa, "Cultura visuale", Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano 2020
- M. Saeed-Vafa, J. Rosenbaum, "Abbas Kiarostami: Expanded Second Edition", University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia 2018
- E. Ugenti, "Abbas Kiarostami. Le forme dell'immagine", Bulzoni, Roma 2018.
- G. Youngblood, "Expanded cinema", Clueb, Bologna 2013.

Further indications of bibliographic and filmographic studies can be found among the documents uploaded on Moodle platform.

The learning assessment consists of an oral exam. However, students are required to elaborate a research report on one of the course subjects that should be submitted to the teacher not later than five days before the exam date. More precise indications concerning the paper and the examination mode will be illustrated during the first lecture of the course as well as in a specific information sheet on the Moodle page.

Lectures consist of both lessons in front of the class and seminars and imply active student participation in discussions on subjects treated in the course books as well as on sequences and illustrative excerpts from films in the recommended filmography. One of the last lectures will be dedicated to presenting and discussing the research report prepared by the students. If conditions related to logistics allow it, during the course we will try to organize occasional “lectures” on topics relevant for the course involving professors from other universities.

Italian

Class attendance is recommended to all students and is required for those who wish to apply for a thesis in the History of Cinema.

Ca’ Foscari follows the Italian law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) for the support and accommodation services available to students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities. If you have either a motor, visual, hearing or another disability (Law 17/1999), or a specific learning disorder (Law 170/2010) and you require support (classroom assistance, technological aids for carrying out exams or personalized exams, accessible format material, note retrieval, specialist tutoring as study support, interpreters or other), please contact the Disability and DSA office disita@unive.it.

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development