The course provides students with the skills to critically understand and think about processes and interpretations of cultural consumptions in the second half of the twentieth century from a global perspective. 

The course provides students with the essential tools and knowledge to interpret the history of the cultural consumptions in the second half of the twentieth century, through an analysis that considers the changes in the political, social, economic field, in lifestyle and attitude. Specifically, it addresses some central interpretive nodes such as the economic and consumptions boom, mass access to visual media, in particular cinema and television, focusing on the perspective of the link between political history, social history and cultural history.

The course dedicates an in-depth study to gender and generational perspectives.

The course offers students the tools and knowledge to interpret the history of cultural consumption, through an analysis that takes into account the political, social, economic, mentality and customs transformations starting from fascism and, in particular, during the second half of the twentieth century. It, therefore, addresses some central interpretative issues such as the economic boom, the consumption boom, the diffusion and mass access to visual media, in particular to cinema and television in the fifties and sixties of the twentieth century. The course also privileges the intersection of political history, with social and cultural history and assigns particular attention to gender and generation perspectives as well as to a global comparative key. 

Students have to reach these goals:

1. Understanding of the main issues and problems relating to research methodology in the history of cultural consumptions. Knowledge of the main tools to do scientific research in contemporary history. 

1.1. Students will attain this knowledge by participating in lectures and studying the scientific texts proposed by the teacher and discussed in the classroom.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding: students should consolidate skills and ability to define simple research projects and deal with some typical problems.

2.1. Classroom discussions, tutorials, a study of texts. 

3. Capacity of judgment: students should achieve criticism about the methods used in the most common empirical investigations.

4. Communication skills: discussion coordinated by the teacher on the course topics.

4.1. Development of opportunities for dialogue in the classroom.

5. Learning skills: development of critical skills, logic and problem analysis.

5.1. Classroom discussions, tutorials, a study of texts

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Video – Multimedia – Mixed media

Teaching

Traditional lesson with the teacher teaching the whole class, seminars, conferences with external scholars, support of multimedia materials.

Attendance

Attendance at the course is mandatory (at least 50% of the lesson hours) except for working students enrolled in the part-time course, for whom attendance at the course is optional although recommended. 

Course books

1) Damiano Garofalo, Storia sociale della televisione in Italia. 1954-1969, Marsilio 2018.

2) Agnese Bertolotti, Bisogni e desideri. Società, consumi e cinema in Italia dalla ricostruzione al boom, Mimesis 2021 For alternative texts in English ask the lecturer.

Ask the professor for alternative texts.

Assessment

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting. It is possible to present a written document on a topic agreed with the teacher. 

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

The program is the same.

Attendance

Non-attending students are invited to keep in touch with the teacher and to view the teaching materials

Course books

1) Damiano Garofalo, Storia sociale della televisione in Italia. 1954-1969, Marsilio 2018.

2) Agnese Bertolotti, Bisogni e desideri. Società, consumi e cinema in Italia dalla ricostruzione al boom, Mimesis 2021 For alternative texts in English ask the lecturer.

Ask the professor for alternative texts.

Assessment

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting. It is possible to present a written document on a topic agreed with the teacher. 

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Attendance at the course is mandatory (at least 50% of the lesson hours) except for working students enrolled in the part-time course, for whom attendance at the course is optional although recommended. 

Full-time students, who have not reached the minimum number of hours of attendance of the individual course, should contact the professor.