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IT205-Italian Cinema I

Module Provider: Italian
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Terms in which taught: Autumn and Spring
Module Convenor: Mr CG Wagstaff
Pre-requisites: Part 1 Italian or by arrangement
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2008/9

Email: c.g.wagstaff@reading.ac.uk

Aims:
This module aims to introduce students to the study of film, the history of Italian cinema, and the theories and works of Italian neorealist film directors (Rossellini, De Sica, Visconti, De Santis and others).

Assessable learning outcomes:

  • a basic familiarity with the technology of cinema, and with techniques of filming and editing; a knowledge of the basic outline of the history of Italian cinema, and in particular the place of neorealism in that history; the ability to relate the style and content of a film to the context of a world media market; the acquisition of competence in analysing film texts;
  • the effective and critical expression of this understanding and analysis in classroom discussions and seminars, in the examination and in coursework essays.

    Additional outcomes:

  • an appreciation of the importance of debates about the social function of cultural forms;
  • the ability to look hard and listen closely, to remember what has been seen and heard, and to reflect analytically on those experiences;
  • the ability to articulate conceptually emotional relationships;
  • the acquisition of a basic semiotic vocabulary for articulating the relationship between words and images and meanings;
  • IT skills in word-processing assessed essays and conducting OPAC and other Web searches for materials relating to cinema.

    Outline content:
    The module will explore the following topics:

  • how feature films tell stories;
  • how films are shot and put together;
  • what films were made in Italy;
  • how the cinema industry operates;
  • what the neorealists were trying to do, why they were trying to do it, and what issues this raises.
    It will also analyse some cultural representations of Italy's experience of the Second World War.

    Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
    Lectures, classroom analysis of film extracts, seminars, the latter requiring preparatory research, film viewing, reading and group discussion. Students will take it in turns to present topics for the seminars.

    Contact hours:

      Autumn  Spring Summer
    Lectures      
    Tutorials/seminars 20 10

    revision as necessary
    Practicals      
    Other contact (eg study visits)      
           
    Total hours 20 10  
           
    Number of essays or assignments      
    Other (eg major seminar paper)      

    Assessment:
    Coursework:
    Students will write two essays of 2,000-3,000 words each. The average of the two marks will form the student's assessment mark, subject to scrutiny by a second internal examiner and by the external examiner where relevant.
    Relative percentage of coursework: 50%
    Examinations
    One two hour examination which will count for 50% of the assessment.
    Requirements for a pass
    A mark of 40% overall
    Reassessment arrangements
    Students who fail the whole module will be re-examined in September. Coursework will be carried forward if it bears a mark of 40% or more. Otherwise it must be submitted by 1 September, and will be eligible for a mark of no higher than 40%.

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