104112 - AUDIOVISUAL LANGUAGE AND EXPRESSION

Subject type: Basic

Coordinator: Rafael Suarez Gómez

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

This subject is part of the field of Communication of the Degree in Audiovisual Media. It is proposed as an introductory approach to audiovisual language and its descriptive, narrative and expressive use, both in terms of the elements of image and sound language, with the aim of offering an overview of the basic elements that they make up audiovisual communication and its new expressions as a result of the digitization process. Thus, a global overview of television language, internet languages ​​and new media is included. 

This subject has methodological and digital resources to make possible its continuity in non-contact mode in the case of being necessary for reasons related to the Covid-19. In this way, the achievement of the same knowledge and skills that are specified in this teaching plan will be ensured.

At the end of the course the student must be able to:

1. Prepare and record the images and sound elements needed to make an audiovisual piece with a narrative meaning. 
2. Explanation of information of an argumentative nature in public. 
3. Group work on documentary research on some aspect of history and / or audiovisual language.
4. Critical analysis of film or television sequences.

In addition, the student will also achieve the following learning outcomes:

5. To know and recognize the elements that make possible the audiovisual communication.
6. Develop a critical and analytical discourse on the trends of contemporary audiovisual.
7. To know how to apply audiovisual language correctly in the production of meaning.
8. To know how to construct fictional spaces from the structuring of the audiovisual language.
9. Know and be able to apply the main methodologies of analysis on the sound in the audiovisual.
10. Identify the sound, symbolic, expressive and structural resources used in music in different areas of the audiovisual such as cinema, television, advertising, video or video games.

The subject consists of two different parts:

- Large group sessions (4h / week), where theoretical knowledge is taught. Due to the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19, these sessions will be carried out with half face-to-face group and half group in streaming format, or in virtual format from the Zoom tool. 
- Seminar sessions (middle group: half of the class) (2h / week), where activities focused on language creation and analysis are developed, using the following work tools:

- Work in small groups for the discussion and analysis of audiovisual pieces
- Project-based learning, articulated from discussion activities.

Due to the restrictions brought about by COVID-19, although in principle these sessions are face-to-face, they may have to be offered in zoom format if the situation requires it. 

In addition, the dedication of autonomous work and in small groups of students is also contemplated, corresponding to 15 hours of dedication for each credit, adding a total of 90 hours of independent work, where it is expected of the student:

- The autonomous study for the evaluative tests
- Carrying out creative or academic work in small groups
- The reading of the compulsory texts and the viewing of the compulsory filmography, linked to the realization, also in these hours, of the tests of follow-up in the virtual classroom. 
- The search and structuring of the information for the elaboration of the debates, from the formulated question. 

1. Fundamentals of audiovisual language

1.1. The audiovisual language

1.2. Morphological aspects of audiovisual language

1.3. Syntactic aspects of audiovisual language

1.3.1. The composition of the image

1.3.2. The creation of space

1.4. Semantic aspects: audiovisual discourse in editing

1.4.1. Narrative units

1.4.2. Continuity

1.4.3. Continuity in the displacement of a subject: the axis of action

1.4.4. Editing and editing

1.4.5. The creation of time

2. The role of sound in the audiovisual

2.1 Historical approach

2.2 Theoretical approach. Basic concepts

2.3 Introduction to the analysis of sound in the audiovisual

2.3.1 Factors of sound communication

2.3.2 The musical / sound meaning as a cultural pact

2.3.3 Functions of film music

2.3.4 The perspectives of Michel Chion and Nicholas Cook

2.4 Introduction to the analysis of sound in the audiovisual

2.4.1 Introduction to semiotics in the audiovisual

2.4.2 Music, intertext and advertising

2.4.3 Introduction to Philip Tagg's theoretical apparatus

3. Expression of audiovisual language

3.1 The language of television. From paleotelevision to hypertelevision.

3.2 The audiovisual language on the internet. 

3.3 Audiovisual language and the real world. 

4. Debates on society and audiovisual language

Activity 1. The creation of the space

General description: 
The activity consists of making an audiovisual piece, in groups, lasting 3 minutes, where from a simple story (invented or not) a non-real space is built from the assembly.

Support Material: 
Camera, tripod, memory card, batteries.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: 
The audiovisual piece must be delivered in a compressed and standard format (mp4, mov). This activity will account for 10% of the final grade of the course.

Learning outcomes: 
At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

LO1. Prepare and record the images and sound elements needed to make an audiovisual piece with a narrative meaning.
LO5. Know and recognize the elements that make audiovisual communication possible. 
LO7. Know how to correctly apply audiovisual language in the production of meaning.
LO8. Know how to build fictional spaces based on the structuring of audiovisual language.

Skills to be worked on: G1, G4

Addendum: in case of impossibility to carry out this activity due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19, an alternative activity will be carried out that allows to evaluate this 10% of note of the subject and that allows, as far as possible, to evaluate the proposed learning outcomes. 

Activity 2. Analysis of the functions of film music

General description: 
Analytical description of the role of sound in an audiovisual product (cinema or commercial) agreed in class. The work will be done in groups and will be presented in class.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: 
A pdf file must be delivered to the eCampus-enabled mailbox. The pdf will contain the presentation and an explanatory script that must include one queue list for the analysis part. This activity will account for 5% of the final grade of the course.

Learning outcomes: At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

LO3. Group work on documentary research on some aspect of history and / or audiovisual language.
LO4. Critical analysis of film or television sequences.
LO9. Know and be able to apply the main methodologies of analysis on the sound in the audiovisual.
LO10. Identify the sound, symbolic, expressive and structural resources used in music in different areas of the audiovisual such as cinema, television, advertising, video or video games.

Skills to be worked on: E14, G1, G4

Activity 3. Evaluation test. 

General description: 
Online test for evaluating the contents of topic 2. 

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: 
The test will be performed in real time online using the Nearpod program.
 This activity will account for 5% of the final grade of the course.

Learning outcomes: At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

LO5. 5. To know and recognize the elements that make possible the audiovisual communication.

Skills to be worked on: E14, G1.

Activity 4. Analysis of an audiovisual work

General description: The activity consists of the analysis of an audiovisual work or a cinematographic or television genre. This is a theoretical work, in groups, where all the content related to the subject of the subject of Audiovisual Language and History of Audiovisual Media must be analyzed: use of audiovisual language, genre, format, context historical, etc.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: The work must be submitted in written and digital format (pdf). A public oral presentation is also required. This activity will suppose 20% of the final note of the asignatura, of which:

20% of the final grade will be the written work
5% of the final grade will be from the public oral presentation

Learning outcomes: At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

LO3. Group work on documentary research on some aspect of history and / or audiovisual language.
LO4. Critical analysis of film or television sequences.
LO5. Know and recognize the elements that make audiovisual communication possible.
LO6. Develop a critical and analytical discourse on the trends of contemporary audiovisual.

Skills to be worked on: E14, G1, G4. 

Activity 5. Debate

General description: 
The activity consists of preparing, in groups, the presentation and defense of one of the positions raised in the emerging debates in the audiovisual sector.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: It is necessary to deliver a brief summary of the proposed exhibition. This activity will account for 5% of the final grade of the course. of which:

Learning outcomes: At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

LO2. Explanation of information of an argumentative nature in public. 
LO6. Develop a critical and analytical discourse on the trends of contemporary audiovisual.

Skills to be worked on: G4. 

Activity 6. Follow-up tests

General description: The activity consists of answering a test-type test of each of the compulsory readings and viewings of the subject.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: Carrying out the tests from the virtual classroom. This activity, together with other class activities, will account for 5% of the final grade of the subject.

Learning outcomes: At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

LO5. Know and recognize the elements that make audiovisual communication possible.
LO6. Develop a critical and analytical discourse on the trends of contemporary audiovisual.

Skills to be worked on: G4. 

Activity 7. Final exam

General description: Individual test where students will have to demonstrate the assimilation of the theoretical contents developed in the whole subject.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: The tasks and answers required in each case. The final exam corresponds to 45% of the final grade of the subject.

Learning outcomes: At the end of the activity the student must be able to:

LO4. Critical analysis of film or television sequences.
LO5. Know and recognize the elements that make audiovisual communication possible.
R10. 10. Identify the sound, symbolic, expressive and structural resources used in music in different areas of the audiovisual such as cinema, television, advertising, video or video games.

Skills to be worked on: E14, G1. 

The evaluation system clearly differentiates two parts: the theoretical part and the part corresponding to the continuous evaluation activities. In order to be approved, the minimum mark of the final exam must be higher than 5.

The theoretical part (final exam) consists of 45% of the final evaluation.  

The part of continuous evaluation activities consists of 50% of the final evaluation, with the weighting of the following elements:

• Activity 1: 10%
• Activity 2: 5%
• Activity 3: 5%
• Activity 4: 25%
• Debates: 5%
• Comprehension tests and other activities: 5%

Due to the nature of the subject, spelling and syntax in written expression are assessable, so misspellings and syntax will be penalized by subtracting 0,25 points each. 

Recovery:

Students who have not passed the final exam can access recovery. The continuous assessment is not recoverable, so the resit exam will continue to average with the mark of the continuous assessment, and this weighting must exceed 5.

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