Learning objectives
At the end of the course students will learn the characteristics of food communication on television and digital media and their relationship with contemporary cultural imagery. Moreover, they will acquire the critical, analytical and practical tools to understand and communicate food and its culture in contemporary media landscape.
Prerequisites
The texts mentioned in the bibliography cover not all the topics discussed during the course and lessons will take advantage of video contents like clips and fragments that will be discussed all together. For that reasons, attending classes is highly recommended.
Course unit content
A particular emphasis will be given to the study of the modes through which food is represented and narrated on television, both in scripted (television series) and unscripted (reality shows) television shows. Moreover, the course will also deal with the strategies of digital media (especially social networks) in relation to food communication and to the representation of chefs/celebrities related to the world of food.
Full programme
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Bibliography
- Marrone, Gianfranco (a cura di). Buono da pensare. Cultura e comunicazione del gusto. Roma: Carocci, 2014.
- Stano, Simona. “Mauvais à regarder, bon à penser: il food porn tra gusti e disgusti”, E/C, vol.23, 2018.
- Barra, Luca, Farinacci, Elisa. “Easy Italian! Cooking show televisivi e circolazione internazionale della cucina italiana”, L’avventura, 1/2021
- Grignaffini, Giorgio. I generi televisivi. Nuova edizione. Roma: Carocci, 2021
N.B.: the essays (pdf) by Stano and Barra/ Farinacci will be provided by the teacher via Elly
Teaching methods
Lectures, for which attendance and active participation students are recommended, delivered with help of Powerpoints and of video-clips.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam consists of two parts, one written and one oral.
A) written assignment: students will have to prepare a written essay (information on essay’s editorial criteria will be available on Elly) of a maximum length of 5,000 words, which will critically analyse a case study picked up from the following categories:
- the methods of representation and storytelling of a famous Italian or international chef;
- the analysis of an unscripted Italian or international television show (or, moreover, similar programs compared);
- analysis of a thematic channel programming strategy;
- the analysis of the way by which an Italian or international TV series (or several related series) represents and depicts food;
- analysis of food communication via social media;
- other similar issues;
The essay must present a good degree of analysis and be accompanied by an adequate bibliography (which does not include only web sources).
Please note: Students must upload the essay on Elly following the instructions reported on Elly’s “sezione compito”. Papers received after the indicated deadline will not be considered and will not be evaluated.
Who in the essay will achieve a score lower than 18/30 will be considered rejected and will not be able to access the oral test (three days before the oral test a communication will be send to those NOT admitted)
B) Oral examination: this second part of the exam is an oral examination that aims to probe the acquisition by the students of contents and the ability to express them in an appropriate way. The questions (max. three) will be mainly based on written essay’s contents and development.
Other information
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