30469 - CRITICAL APPROACHES TO THE ARTS II - MODULE I (TELEVISION AND CULTURE)
Department of Social and Political Sciences
Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31
Course Director:
ANDREA QUARTARONE
ANDREA QUARTARONE
Suggested background knowledge
The course does not require proficiency in communication, mass media, contemporary history or politics, but it does demand a genuine interest in all these subjects.
Mission & Content Summary
MISSION
Television is used to have an extraordinary capability in shaping public opinion, and eventually affecting the whole society. But in recent times the emerging of new audience consumption patterns, the rise of social media and social networks, the escalation of new anti-establishment ideological schemes that comes along with a general mood of distrust in the old media, the emergence of a new - and strong - political communication are changing the parameters of the public debate and questioning the historical role of television. Which are the positions held by the medium in the clash between the ruling elites and the people? How to cope the loss of credibility? Can the medium remain popular but educating - for the good and for the bad, as it has always been - in societies mostly dominated by a strong distrust in all the top-down processes? And if television can't be faster or more direct than social media, how to compete with them? Generally speaking: is television original, fundamental role of society influencer truly lost? If yes: how to regain it? The analytical study of the relation between television and public sphere, with a specific focus on the current day-by-day political, social and historical facts, will enable students to deeply and widely understand the strategic role held in the past by television in social, cultural, political changes, and to foresee the future relation between the medium, its audiences and the civil societies in which it operates.
CONTENT SUMMARY
Built on solid theoretical/critical basis, mostly linked to cultural, sociological and political studies, the course explores topics useful to define the new social and political role of the medium content, such as:
- Social history of television.
- Audience studies.
- Television communication spectrum.
- Ideological architecture of television communication.
- Connections between television, public opinion and state power.
- Journalism and public agenda.
- Media events and medium's relation with history.
- New politics, new politicians and new political communication (and their relation with television).
- Power ratio between television and digital media.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Identify and illustrate the complexity of television communication spectrum.
- Define and summarize the historical and actual role of television in societies.
- Explore and explain the relation between television and audiences, politics, cultures.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Analyze and understand the ideological architecture of television.
- Evaluate the actual social dimension of the medium, and foresee any possible development.
- Prepare her/himself to become a television professional with a full awarness of the potentialities of the medium and a full consciousness of the social and civil responsabilities involved in the cultural production.
Teaching methods
- Face-to-face lectures
- Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
- Individual assignments
DETAILS
The learning style is generally characterized by a strong interaction between teacher and students. Their personal critical/analytical approach is stimulated frequently in class, and very appreciated.
- Guest speakers provide a different (broader, narrower or lateral) perspectives on the course topics.
- Individual assignments provide students the possibility to develop and express their own critical skills.
Assessment methods
| Continuous assessment | Partial exams | General exam | |
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x | ||
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x |
ATTENDING STUDENTS
- Individual assignment: a 2-pages critical essay - delivered some weeks before the exam - about one of the topics discussed in class choosen by the student, in order to evaluate her/his capabilities in:
- Evaluate the actual social dimension of the medium, and foresee any possible development.
- Analyze and understand the ideological architecture of television.
- Oral individual exam: answers, explanations or personal perspectives provided about specific questions about course topics. The exam is designed to evaluate student capabilities in:
- Define and summarize the historical and actual role of television in societies.
- Identify and illustrate the complexity of television communication spectrum.
- Explore and explain the relation between television and audiences, politics, cultures.
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
- A final, written, 2-hours long, 4 open questions exam, about two books (more detailed aspects are included in the syllabus). It's designed to evaluate candidate capabilities in:
- Define and summarize the historical and actual role of television in societies.
- Identify and illustrate the complexity of television communication spectrum.
- Explore and explain the relation between television and audiences, politics, cultures.
Teaching materials
ATTENDING STUDENTS
Bibliography and studying materials are expressed in the syllabus, at the beginning of the course.
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Bibliography and studying materials are expressed in the syllabus, at the beginning of the course.
Last change 01/06/2019 15:35