Learning objectives: The course intends to provide historical, linguistic and theoretical tools useful for the knowledge and understanding of Western cinema, as well as for the reading of the cinematographic work - intended both as an aesthetic-cultural product and as an economic and social product -, going to investigate how and to what extent the medium has been permeable to the political, economic, cultural and social changes of the History of the Twentieth Century. At the end of the course, students will be able to - recognise the main forms of expression in the history of cinema by relating them to the historical context of reference; - grasp the evolutions that have affected the cinematographic language; - analyse a cinematographic text in depth, taking into account the context of production and that of reception; - develop communication and expository skills in the cinematographic field. Prerequisites: No prior knowledge is required. Contents: The course is structured on three levels, which are complementary to each other: 1) Definition and analysis of the methodological and theoretical issues of the history and historiography of the cinema (approximately 8 hours) 2) Identification and stylistic-formal analysis of the main production trends in the history of western cinema through the recognition of significant currents, works and authors (approximately 40 hours). For each era, the aim is to identify: o the relationship with the historical context (political, economic, social and cultural); o the modes of reception and interpretation of the works (also at a diachronic level); o the effects on contemporaneity. 3) Definition and analysis of the cinematic representation of Italy's relationship with the African imaginary: from the Italo-Turkish war to Fascist colonialism, from the processes of decolonisation and re-elaboration of colonial trauma to contemporary migration. The theme will be tackled by bringing historical events into dialogue with the forms of representation and interpretation developed by Italian cinema during the 20th century (approx. 20 hours). Teaching methods: The training objectives of the course will be achieved through - classic frontal lectures, supported by the viewing and analysis of significant scenes and sequences of representative films; - interdisciplinary seminars in crossover mode (for a maximum of 12 hours) with the participation of other lecturers of the course, in order to deepen, understand and interpret the topics dealt with through different interpretations; - educational outing aimed at the field verification of the forms of storytelling and valorisation of the history of cinema. Assessment of learning: The learning of the contents of the course will be assessed by means of an oral test aimed at ascertaining: - knowledge of the contents of the course manual; - the analytical skills developed by the student with reference to the films in the programme, the screening of which is envisaged in their entirety; - critical knowledge of the in-depth texts provided by the lecturer on the E-Learning platform, with reference to the cinematographic representation of Italy's relationship with the African imagery. The grade for the oral test (assessed in thirtieths) will take into account the accuracy and quality of the answers (60%), as well as communication skills and the ability to adequately justify statements, analyses and judgements (40%). The student must have achieved a total score of 18/30 to pass the learning assessment. Other information: Professor Piredda receives students by appointment, to be arranged by writing to m.piredda@uninsubria.it, at the Rossi Pavilion or online according to specific needs.