General information


Subject type: Basic

Coordinator: Maddalena Fedele

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

Teaching staff: 

Jorge Oter Gonzalez
Cloe Masotta Lijtmaer 

Skills


Specific skills
  • E14_Acquire knowledge of the history, aesthetics, evolution and dynamics of cinema, television, radio, press, Internet and video games, how to recognize aesthetics through viewing and analysis

Description


Today we are permanently surrounded by audiovisual messages of various kinds. In the age of screens, we receive these impulses through multiple channels and in different facets of our lives, from professional life to the intimacy of the home. It is important, therefore, to reflect on the nature of these messages that affect us in our daily lives, as well as on the way in which they are organized and related, and on their origin. In this course we will take a look at the historical, aesthetic and technological development of photography, film, radio, television and, more recently, the internet and video games. We will look at their appearance and trajectory, the expressive characteristics of each of them and, as a consequence, what they have in common. To achieve this, many examples of specific cases will help us, as well as other explanatory materials. It is important not only to know this journey, but also to develop a critical thinking around works that will influence us when making our own products throughout the degree. Also, and in relation to this, small academic style assignments will be done: these assignments will help us to start getting acquainted with a way of working that will be asked of us during the degree and in the final research of the same.

Learning outcomes


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

-To have a general knowledge of the historical evolution of the audiovisual media: photography, cinema, radio, television, and Internet and video games

-Know, value and locate the main audiovisual works and authors

-Develop critical thinking about audiovisual media, their products and their future evolution

-Submit and write ideas in an argumentative way and with formal correction

Working methodology


The theoretical classes will combine the theoretical exposition with the frequent viewing of works by the authors and the currents mentioned, as well as other materials (such as fragments of documentaries, reports or programs) that complement the knowledge on certain topics. The seminars (in small groups) will work on texts, theoretical contexts and the exercises assigned to the subject. Sometimes it will be possible to request the participation of the students by means of the critical commentary of the materials used in class or of the readings of the subject and compulsory films. You may be asked to present certain topics or assignments in class.

Contents


1. PHOTOGRAPHY

Birth and beginnings of photography

Technological and social evolution of photography in the XNUMXth century

Origins, difficulties, development and consolidation of photojournalism

Photography as a footprint

Evolution in the twentieth century. Some authors 

2. THE CINEMA

Origins of cinema: pre-cinema; Lumière, Méliès; Brighton School. Edison and the Patent War

The birth of cinematic narrative. Porter, Griffith

Silent cinema. Comic cinema. European aesthetic trends

Sound cinema. The Hollywood model. Genres and authors

Post-war currents. Italy: neorealism. France: new wave

Some personalities of the last third of the twentieth century

3. THE RADIO

Invention and beginnings of broadcasting

Technical and social evolution of the radio medium

Radio in Spain and Catalonia throughout the XNUMXth century

Radio and programming models

Technological advances and innovations

4. TELEVISION

Origins of television. Mechanical television and electronic television

Technological and social evolution of television

Television programming

The American model and the British model

Television in Spain. Birth and evolution

Beginnings and evolution of television in Catalonia

5. INTERNET AND VIDEO GAMES

History of the Internet. Technological and social evolution

Characteristics and values ​​associated with the new network

La World Wide Web and its evolutions

Video games: birth and history

Video games and other forms of audiovisual expression. Video art and synthesis image

Learning activities


1. Commentary on a photograph (academic work around a photographic image).

Work in groups of 4-5 people in which students will reflect on a significant photographic work and related to the contents of the subject. The academic-style commentary will be carried out from an aesthetic or historical point of view, in relation to the specific characteristics of the photographic medium.

Support Material: Activity statement. Possible proposal of several cases, one of which must be chosen for comment.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: An original written commentary of up to 10 pages of text will be provided, depending on the recommended format and style. Its value in the evaluation will be 20%.

Specific objectives:

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

-Document yourself about a specific topic

-Write an original critical comment correctly and in an orderly manner

-Recognize the aesthetic characteristics of a work and its significance; place it in relation to other works and a context

-Work in groups in a coordinated way

 

2. Comment on an aspect or work of the History of the Audiovisual (Cinema, Television or Video Games).

Work in groups of 4-5 people in which students will reflect on an aspect or work of film, television or video games. The commentary, of academic style, will be carried out from an aesthetic, historical or nature point of view. (The composition of the groups may change from that of the previous work.)

Support Material: Statement of the exercise.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: An original written commentary of up to 10 pages of text will be provided, depending on the recommended format and style. Its value in the evaluation will be 20%.

Specific objectives:

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

-Document yourself about a specific topic

-Write an original critical comment correctly and in an orderly manner

-Recognize the aesthetic characteristics of a work and its significance; place it in relation to other works and a context

-Work in groups in a coordinated way

 

3. Examination

Individual test of assessment of knowledge of the syllabus.

Support Material: Statement of the test.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: Examination resolution. Its value in the evaluation will be 40%.

Specific objectives:

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

-Have a global historical perspective of the audiovisual media

-Relate various audiovisual documents with their context

-Recognize the main authors and works in the history of audiovisual media

 

4. Readings and activities on the contents of the course

Texts and essays indicated for reading during the course, necessary reading to enable participation in scheduled activities and debates.

Participation in the different scheduled activities, apart from the readings, which may require the preparation, by the students, of topics or materials.

Participation and possible presentations. Work, research done by students and / or agreed materials. The presentation would consist of an oral presentation with the support of audiovisual resources. The characteristics of the presentation would be evaluated: correctness and clarity, structure, selection of contents, resources, adjustment to the time requirement, originality.

Mandatory viewing movies by the student outside of class hours. A list will be given.

Support Material: Readings and other documents. Statement of the exercise, if applicable.

Deliverable and links to the evaluation: Content monitoring from an active and participatory perspective. Its value in the evaluation will be 20%.

Specific objectives:

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

-To be aware of ideas related to the subject taught

-Recognize key aspects of a text

-Locate texts in relation to elements treated in the theoretical part of the subject

-Establish critical thinking around texts

Evaluation system


Qualification system (evaluation)

The subject is evaluated based on the exercises and tests specified. The final grade consists of the sum of the percentage marks obtained in each work or assessable test. The practical part or the development of critical skills, not assessable as an exam, but through exercises done mostly in groups, comprises 60% of the final grade: the commentary on a photograph (20%), the commentary on an aspect or work in the history of the audiovisual (cinema, television or video games) (20%), other activities (20%).

The theoretical part of the subject will be assessed individually in the form of an exam (40% of the final grade). It is necessary to obtain a minimum of 5 in exam to access to make average mark to the asignatura.

The course contemplates the realization of activities proposed for the classes or out of these. Some of these activities will be assessable, up to 20% of the grade (previously referred to as 'Other activities').

Teachers may request the presentation of some topics or assignments in class.

Assessment methods:

Assessment methods are explained on the first day of class.

The evaluation can be to be continued and the different exercises are delivered according to the calendar established both in class and in the statements of the exercises and in the virtual classroom.

The evaluation can be unique and the same exercises are delivered within the final weeks of the subject, all at the same time. The exam is usually done. The single evaluation implies a waiver of the follow-up of the work through the opening hours. Must be requested at the beginning of the course as established on the first day of class.

The evaluation is by default continuous.

Detail:

20% Comment on a photo.

20% Comment on an aspect or work of the History of the Audiovisual (cinema, television or video games)

40% Evaluable with exam

20% Other activities

Recovery:

In the recovery, the theoretical part of the subject is recovered, by means of an exam that will collect all the theoretical content of the same.

The practical part is done continuously throughout the course and is not recovered.

According to the current regulations of the center, only students who have participated in a significant number of the evaluation activities of the course and have not reached the 5 final average mark will be able to appear in the resit exam.

 

Rules for carrying out the activities

The activities will have to respond to the criteria indicated in class and / or in the statements of the same. The presentation and linguistic correction will also be valued.

The works must be original. Plagiarism immediately invalidates the corresponding work, so that it will not be evaluated. The difference between copying (plagiarism) and citation is in the correct mention of the sources of information.

REFERENCES


Basic

Palacio, Manuel. History of television in Spain. Madrid: Gedisa, 2015.

Sougez, Marie Loup. History of photography. Madrid: Cátedra, 1994.

Gubern, Roman. History of cinema. Barcelona: Lumen, 1996.

Silva, Lorenzo. Radio in Spain: 1923-1997. Madrid: Alianza, 1997.

Complementary

Castells, Manuel. The Galaxy Internet. Barcelona: Plaza & Janés, 2002.

Baget Herms, Josep M .. History of television in Catalonia. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya. Communication Research Center, 1994.

Amar, Pierre-Jean. Photojournalism. Buenos Aires: La Marca, 2005.

Xavier, Ismail. The cinematic discourse. Buenos Aires: Manantial, 2008.

Balsebre, Armand. History of radio in Spain. Flight. I and II. Madrid: Chair, 2001 and 2002.

Camporesi, Valeria. Thinking about the History of Cinema. Madrid: Cátedra, 2014.

Freund, Gisèle. Photography as a social document. Barcelona, ​​Gustavo Gili, 2001.

Ranz Abad, Jesus. A brief history of the Internet. Madrid: Anaya, 1997.