Media and Italian Contemporary Culture

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The students are introduced to Italian society and culture through media, with a focus on representation in Italian film and television history, music, and youth culture. Students become familiar with Italian culture from the 1950s to the present day. The course also aims to further develop students' language skills in Italian.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, students will have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student

  • has knowledge of the main features of contemporary Italian culture, society, and mass media.
  • has knowledge of Italian film and TV history.
  • can understand key concepts related to mass media in Italy. has a broad understanding of the subject area covered in the course.

Skills:

The student

  • can convey and discuss topics related to Italian society, culture, and media history.
  • can reflect on the significance and impact of these topics in today's world.
  • can form opinions and discuss, providing clear and detailed explanations of topics related to Italian social knowledge and culture, as well as film and TV history.

General competence:

The student

  • can express themselves orally using an expanded Italian vocabulary."

ECTS Credits

10

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Recommended Previous Knowledge

The student should have Italian language skills at the level of those who have taken the course, ITAL100">ITAL100 Introduction to Italian Studies.

We encourage students to take ITAL133 alongside ITAL121 and ITAL125 (a total of 30 credits). This will allow the student to draw on both courses and increase the overall learning outcomes, as well as provide ample practice in using the Italian language.

Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Due to academic overlap, the credit points for ITAL133 will be reduced by 10 credits if the course is combined with ITAL623.
Access to the Course
The course is open to all students enrolled at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

The teaching consists of five online seminars and the use of podcasts. Students must actively participate in the teaching to further develop good language skills in Italian and to achieve the specified learning outcomes in the course.

The scope of the seminar teaching will normally be two hours of seminars every other week. The total teaching will take place over a period of 10 weeks.

If fewer than five students enroll in the course, the teaching offered may be adjusted to the number of students. Students will be informed about the alternative teaching approach at the start of the semester in that case.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Each student shall give a commentary on a film, an episode of a TV series, or a similar genre chosen by the student. The oral commentary should have a duration of 3-4 minutes.

The student must complete the activity in order to have it approved. Students that complete will be eligible for assessment in the course. Approved course requirements are valid for the teaching semester and the following semester.

Forms of Assessment
The form of assessment is a oral exam of approximately 30 minutes. The student is required to use Italian during the oral exam.
Grading Scale
The grading scale A-F is used, where F is a failing grade.
Assessment Semester
Spring and fall.
Reading List
The reading list will be available on December 1st for use in the spring semester.
Course Evaluation
Examination Support Material
None
Programme Committee
The Program Board for Italian is responsible for the academic content and structure of this course, among other things.
Course Coordinator
The Italian Program Board
Course Administrator
The Faculty of Humanities by the Department of Foreign Languages has administrative responsibility for the course.