Art History

DONATELLA CAPALDI
DONATELLA CAPALDI

The general goal of the course is learning theories and methods for understanding artistic
works and processes with a mediological approach. A first section is required, related the
basics of media science; a second section is oriented to acquire the theoretical foundations of
mediological reflection on arts and to deal with interpretation problems, whilw a third
section, building on the skills acquired in the first two, is dedicated to examples of
interpretation, applied in the analysis of literary, artistic and spectacular texts and works.
Overall, the learning path provides as partial objectives:
a) the knowledge of basic notions of media science and its reflection on the arts, with its
foundations in Walter Benjamin, the sociology of literature and arts of the late twentieth
century and the McLuhan’s school of Toronto, and its developments in the 21st century;
b) enhancing the ability to apply knowledge through field analysis;
c) enhancing the ability to critically elaborate knowledge and experiences on the field;
d) developing specific communication skills, as writing complex papers;
e) enhancing learning skills through a blended learning experience (mix of lectures and
seminars, online platform activities, and individual work).

Learning of the Media Studies main traditions. Ability to interpret texts and works in a medialogical key. Improved research and writing skills.
Expected results according to Transversal skills:
a) MILs - Media and Information Literacy
Technology management, understanding of multimedia texts and materials, media languages, storytelling, creative reuse of digital contents, transmediality.
b) Cognitive Skills
Critical ability, contextualization of problems, art product detection and interpretation, problem-solving, creativity.
c) Soft Skills
Objective achievement, time organization, ability to take into account different points of view, dialectical and argumentative skills, interdisciplinarity.

a) It is mandatory to register on the Moodle platform (elearning.uniroma1.it), from September, 10, 2025with the access key "MLAS25"
b) It is mandatory to verify the understanding of the instructions of the course, by means of an on-line test on the platform,
c) Compilation of the Key-skills questionnaire on the platform is mandatory

Mediology and the interpretation of arts. Analyzing masterpieces and movements of literature, arts and cinema.
The course includes two sections. The first one, in classroom or blended learning, is dedicated to basics of the media sciences. The second one concerns media-analysis theory and examples of interpretation (classroom or belndeed learning), an intensive workshop, and conferences/lessons on case studies.

a)- Video lessons of general mediology and video lessons of mediology of literature, art and entertainment (available on the Moodle module in elearning.uniroma1.it)
b)- Alberto Abruzzese and Paolo Mancini, Sociologie della comunicazione, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2007
c)- Giovanni Ragone and Fabio Tarzia (ed.): Storia e teoria della serialità, vol. I: Dal canto omerico al cinema degli anni Trenta, Meltemi, Milano 2023; or: Sergio Brancato, Stefano Cristante, Emiliano Ilardi (eds.). History and theory of seriality, vol. II: Il Novecento: dalle narrazioni di massa alla svolta digitale, Meltemi, Milano 2024 ; or: Giovanni Boccia Artieri, Giovanni Fiorentino (a cura di:) Storia e teoria della serialità, vol. III: Le forme della narrazione contemporanea tra arte, consumi e ambienti artificiali, Meltemi, Milano 2024.
d)- Giovanni Ragone, Per la mediologia della letteratura, Aracne, Roma 2019 (available on the Moodle module in elearning. uniroma1.it); or: Donatella Capaldi (ed.), Kafka e le metafore dei media, Liguori, Napoli 2012 (also in ebook).

Students are required to access the module on the online learning platform (which allows e-learning or blended learning between classroom, working groups, creation of materials and online activities) at http://elearning.uniroma1.it . The module's access key is "MLAS25".

The "Instructions" that can be downloaded from the module describe the sections, teaching materials and tests to be taken step by step. The course can be attended entirely in e-learning or in blended learning (taking part in lectures and seminars - part in the classroom and part online) and in laboratory activities. The learning model is therefore blended and includes:

a)Frontal lectures: general problem-setting / main theories (cognitive skills / Bloom: 1-2 Remembering-Understanding / Tuning: Instrumental skills)
b)Flipped class: discussion of materials available on the platform, in order to reconstruct the theoretical framework from a specific example (problem solving, critical capacity / Bloom: 3-4: Applying-Analizing / Tuning: Instrumental and interpersonal skills)
c)Self-directed-learning with research of materials and case studies (learning by doing, Mils - media languages / Bloom: 3-4: Applying-Analizing / Tuning: Instrumental skills)
d)Presentations by the students on topics of their choice: (language skills, argumentative skills, planning of interventions, media languages / Bloom: 3 Evaluating- Creating / Tuning: Instrumental and interpersonal skills)
e)Seminars: in-depth study with experts
f) Paper writing
For all information and clarifications concerning enrolment and course progress, the email of the tutor serena novi is available on the Moodle module at elearning.uniroma1.it

Students are required to know and respect the instructions contained in the "Instructions" of the module accessible on the platform and downloadable in pdf.

Autonomous blended learning or classroom participation for the first section. Classroom or online learning for the second section.
It is compulsory to register for the module on elearning.uniroma1.it, with the "MLAS25" access key and to comply with the General Instructions and the prescriptions for the step-by-step procedure on the platform.

Students must perform online tests on theoretical topics and develop analyzes of texts and works in written form.
The final grade is given by the average of the results in the tests (test, analysis paper). The results of the individual tests are made available online on the platform. To pass the exam you must have achieved at least 18/30 in all the following tests:
a) general mediology test
b) test on theoretical elements of arts mediology
c) papers on at least 4 seminars/conferences
d) individual work of interpretation of literary texts, artworks or films

Analysis of a literary text, a work of art, a film movie or a creative production, or an object produced on the web (UGC).