Program Overview

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HISTORY AND ANALYSIS OF FILM

Course Description

The course tackles the main moments of the history of cinema, from the origins to the advent of the digital era, alternating the study of the socio-cultural role of cinema with the analysis of the main stylistic paradigms that define its aesthetic. To take the course, a solid knowledge of the history of the 20th century, history of contemporary literature, and history of contemporary art is required.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

• Learning the main articulations of the history of cinema, from the origins to the advent of digital.
• In-depth focus on cinema theory and the development of the ability to recognize and analyze the main stylistic paradigms that define the aesthetics of cinema.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide students with the tools to understand the cultural and aesthetic development of cinema, to analyze audiovisual texts, and to problematize the experience of media content. At the end of the course, the student will acquire the capacity to:

1. Interpret the history and theory of cinema.
2. Analyze the functioning of the cinematographic language.
3. Interpret the social and cultural role of cinema.
4. Describe, analyze, and contextualize a film.
5. Relate the history of cinema with that of other media.

The course also includes the acquisition of basic level alphabetical-functional skills.

Prerequisites

In order to better attend the course, a solid knowledge of the history of the twentieth century, of the history of contemporary literature, and of the history of contemporary art is required.

Teaching Methods

Lessons will be held in presence. A final written test, in which the student is asked to analyze a film on the basis of the acquired notions, will enable the student to work, on a basic level, alphabetical-functional competence.

Syllabus/Content

Programme for Students Taking the Course for 6 CFU

The course tackles the history of cinema from the origins to the advent of the digital era. The historical path is enriched by precise references to the theory of cinema and aims, moreover, to develop in students the capacity to recognize and analyze the main stylistic paradigms that define the aesthetics of cinema.

Programme for Students Taking the Course for 9 CFU

The course tackles the history of cinema from the origins to the advent of the digital era. The historical path is enriched by precise references to the theory of cinema and aims, moreover, to develop in students the capacity to recognize and analyze the main stylistic paradigms that define the aesthetics of cinema. Part of the course is devoted to delving into the history, theory, and aesthetics of contemporary cinema, which has arisen as a result of the transition to digital.

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

6 CFU

• G. Carluccio, L. Malavasi, F. Villa, Il cinema. Percorsi storici e questioni teoriche, Carocci, Roma, 2022 (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and two chapters of choice from the second part, "Questioni teoriche").
• L. Malavasi, Il linguaggio del cinema, Pearson, Milano, 2019 (book and digital extension).
• L. Malavasi (a cura di), Il cinema contemporaneo. Caratteristiche, identitŕ culturale, esperienza, UTET Universitŕ, Torino 2024 (only the first part, "Proprietŕ").
• Viewing of 20 films; the filmography is published on AulaWeb.

Non-attending students should add:

• L. Malavasi (a cura di), Christopher Nolan, Marsilio, Venezia 2024.

9 CFU

• G. Carluccio, L. Malavasi, F. Villa, Il cinema. Percorsi storici e questioni teoriche, Carocci, Roma, 2022 (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and two chapters of choice from the second part, "Questioni teoriche").
• L. Malavasi, Il linguaggio del cinema, Pearson, Milano, 2019 (book and digital extension).
• L. Malavasi (a cura di), Il cinema contemporaneo. Caratteristiche, identitŕ culturale, esperienza, UTET Universitŕ, Torino 2024.
• Viewing of 20 films (general part) + 10 films (monographic part); the filmography is published on AulaWeb.

Non-attending students should add:

• L. Malavasi (a cura di), Christopher Nolan, Marsilio, Venezia 2024.

Foreign and Erasmus students can prepare for the exam using the following textbook in English:

• D. Bordwell, C. Thompson, Film History: An Introduction, McGraw-Hill Education, New York-Boston, 2021.
• G. King, New Hollywood Cinema. An Introduction, Columbia University Press, New York, 2002.
• Viewing of 20 movies (general part) + 10 movies (monographic part); the filmography is uploaded on AulaWeb.

Teachers and Exam Board

• Luca Malavasi.

Lessons

Lessons Start

September 15th, 2025.

Class Schedule

The class schedule for HISTORY AND ANALYSIS OF FILM is available.

Exams

Exam Description

The exam is oral, except for the first session of the winter exam period, which is written. Access to the oral exam is subject to the submission of a short film analysis essay. A midterm exam is scheduled exclusively for students who attend the course.

Assessment Methods

1. Written test (open and closed questions) pertaining to the main junctures of film history and aesthetics (first exam session only); assessment thresholds will be appropriately shared. Beginning with the second exam session, and for all subsequent exam sessions, the examination will consist of an oral interview in order to test a solid knowledge of the main dynamics of the development of film history and aesthetics.
2. Paper on a film chosen from those of the exam filmography (indications for writing and sending the assignment are available on Aulaweb). Students attending the course for 9 CFU must write the paper on one of the 10 films from the filmography in the monographic course.

Exam Schedule

• December 15, 2025, 09:00, GENOVA, Oral.
• January 13, 2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Written.
• February 4, 2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Oral.
• May 25, 2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Oral.
• June 11, 2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Oral.
• July 20, 2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Oral.
• September 9, 2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Oral.

Further Information

Foreign and Erasmus students can take the exam in English.