Program Overview

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FILM CRITICISM

Overview

The teaching aims to present and analyze the main historiographical and theoretical aspects of film criticism, examining the history of criticism and its main theoretical elaborations, and addressing through exercises the main features of a critical essay or review.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the teaching is to provide specific skills in the history of film criticism and its socio-cultural role, as well as adequate tools for understanding and knowledge of the various phases of the history of criticism and its impact on society and culture throughout history. The course also aims to equip students with the necessary tools for analyzing and reading critical texts, as well as the ability to approach and interpret them independently.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to problematize the historical, theoretical, and analytical knowledge acquired during the course; be familiar with the debate related to the film (Salce, 1975), a case chosen for classroom discussion; and write a paper according to the exam format.

Prerequisites

There are no specific prerequisites.

Teaching Methods

Teaching will be conducted through lectures and seminar discussions in the classroom.

Syllabus/Content

The teaching will be divided into two modules:

1. Module of history and theory of film criticism, which will analyze the main stages of the history of criticism, and will deal with the case of the film Fantozzi (Salce, 1975) with particular attention, an illustrative case that will be discussed from its reception in the critical field.
2. Writing module and seminar on film criticism: students will engage in critical writing, drafting texts, papers, and reviews that will initiate classroom discussion and debate.

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

• Alberto Pezzotta, La critica cinematografica , Carocci, Roma, 2018
• Giacomo Manzoli, Da Ercole a Fantozzi. Cinema popolare e societŕ italiana dal boom economico alla neotelevisione , Carocci, Roma, 2013 (STUDY ALL OF PART ONE AND ONLY CHAPTER 12 OF PART TWO)
• Michele Guerra, Sara Martin (a cura di), Atti critici in luoghi pubblici. Scrivere di cinema, tv e media dal dopoguerra al web , Diabasis, Parma, 2019 (FIVE ESSAYS)

Non-attendees, in addition to Alberto Pezzotta's book (point 1), must study eight essays to Atti critici in luoghi pubblici (point 3).

Teachers and Exam Board

Teacher

GABRIELE RIGOLA

Exam Board

• GABRIELE RIGOLA (President)
• LUCA MALAVASI

Lessons

Lessons Start

17 September 2025

Class Schedule

The timetable for this course is available.

Exams

Exam Description

Oral examination in which the text written by students will be discussed.

Erasmus students not proficient in Italian may request a substitutive bibliography and take the examination in English or French.

Assessment Methods

Students will be required to write a paper (3 pages) on a film made in the last 30 years, which will be discussed in the oral examination. The examination will also assess the historical and theoretical knowledge that students have acquired during the course and through the study of texts. The overall assessment of the exam will therefore be an average between the outcome of the individual paper and the outcome of the oral exam.

Exam Schedule

• 19/12/2025, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 14/01/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 28/01/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 03/06/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 26/06/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 16/07/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale
• 14/09/2026, 10:00, GENOVA, Orale

Academic Year and Credits

• Academic Year: 2025/2026
• Credits: 6 cfu anno 2 LETTERE 8457 (L-10) - GENOVA

Scientific Disciplinary Sector

• L-ART/06

Language

• Italian

Teaching Location

• GENOVA

Semester

• 1° Semester

Teaching Materials

• AULAWEB