Course 2025-2026 a.y.

At its core, the course examines the reciprocal relationship between television and society. Grounded in a robust theoretical and critical framework—drawing primarily from cultural studies, sociology, and media theory—the course is structured around three key conceptual dimensions:

1. The nature of the medium – its historical development, communicative spectrum, storytelling practices, and conceptual models;
2. Television’s social implications – including its structures of meaning, power relations, and its role in shaping public opinion and fostering popular consensus;
3. The domain of media events – encompassing both ritualized, planned events and disruptive, unplanned occurrences, with a specific and sustained focus on the Olympic Games.

Television coverage of key historical editions of both Summer and Winter Games will be analysed through in-class case studies. These examples will serve as practical applications of the medium’s central theories and methodologies, as well as launching points for critical reflections on the intricate interrelations between television, society, and history. For instance, the 1972 Munich Games will offer an opportunity to examine the televisual treatment of a terrorist attack; the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Games will illustrate the impact of the Cold War on collective imaginaries; Salt Lake City 2002 will provide insight into post-9/11 American sentiment; and Beijing 2008 and London 2012 will facilitate a discussion of national propaganda strategies, among others.

The upcoming Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will be explored during the semester through the production of a TikTok-based magazine, a non-compulsory activity complementary to the course, curated by a voluntary student newsroom under the supervision of the professor and the teaching assistant. This digital project will address a wide range of Olympics-related topics and offer critical commentary and analysis in the lead-up to the Games.

Important note: The course will not adopt a sport-centric perspective. Athletic performances, world records, and major competitions will largely remain in the background of our analyses. Instead, the Olympic Games and their media coverage will be examined through the lenses of politics, culture, society, and, ultimately, history.

• Identify and illustrate the complexity of the television communication spectrum.

• Define and summarize the historical and contemporary roles of television within society.

• Explore and explain the relationships between television, audiences, politics, and culture

• Analyze and understand the ideological and symbolic framework of television.

• Evaluate both the historical and current social dimensions of the medium, and anticipate possible future developments.

• Prepare students to become television professionals with a full awareness of the medium’s potential, as well as a deep understanding of the social and civic responsibilities involved in cultural production.

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Individual works / Assignments
• Collaborative Works / Assignments
• Interaction/Gamification

The teaching style is characterized by a strong, continuous, and meaning-creation-oriented interaction between teacher and students. In addition to this:

• Guest speakers will provide different (broader, narrower, or lateral) perspectives on the course topics.

• Some case studies will be analyzed and discussed through interactive, organized class activities (e.g., workshops).

• Individual assignments (for attending students) will give students the opportunity to develop and express their own critical skills.

• Collaborative work (in the form of the non-compulsory TikTok magazine project) will offer insightful perspectives on media events and Olympic coverage.

Interaction, in all its forms, is one of the pillars of the class activities. Students’ contributions to collective meaning creation are essential for the success of the course and may guide it toward new, unexpected, and welcome educational paths.

• Individual assignment: a 2-page critical essay—submitted a few weeks before the exam—on one of the topics discussed in class, chosen by the student. The essay aims to evaluate the student’s ability to:

  • Evaluate both the historical and current social dimensions of the medium, and anticipate possible future developments

  • Analyze and understand the ideological and symbolic framework of television
• Oral individual exam about the course topics. The exam is designed to assess the student’s ability to:

  • Identify and illustrate the complexity of the television communication spectrum.

  • Define and summarize the historical and contemporary roles of television within society.

  • Explore and explain the relationships between television, audiences, politics, and culture.

• A final oral exam focused on two books (more detailed information is provided in the syllabus). It is designed to evaluate the candidate’s abilities in:
  • Identify and illustrate the complexity of the television communication spectrum.
  • Define and summarize the historical and contemporary roles of television within society.
  • Explore and explain the relationships between television, audiences, politics, and culture

Slides, personal notes and a bibliography will be provided in the syllabus at the beginning of the course.

Bibliography will be provided in the syllabus at the beginning of the course.