KOREAN ARTS, CINEMA AND PERFORMING ARTS

The course is part of the cultural pathway that characterises the Master's degree in Language and Civilisation of Asian and Mediterranean African, Korean curriculum, and will guide students through a plurality of forms of communication and artistic and media expressions of the two countries, to compose a geo-cultural puzzle that, drawing also from local traditions and realities, can illustrate the transformations of these areas and the interaction with global society. Art, cinema and entertainment are not only the reflection of complex cultural systems and a window on ancient civilisations in continuous evolution, but also the channels through which they play a leading role on the world stage today in both political and economic terms.

The aim of this course is to provide students with a basic knowledge of the history and development of the Korean film industry in parallel with the major changes that took place in the country/ies during the 20th century in order to understand, through the study of communication strategies and figurative and visual languages, the motivations that led South Korean cinema to become the industry of reference in Asia in the last two decades. The lectures include the illustration of case studies, with extensive use of audiovisual material. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes, formulated according to the Dublin Descriptors:

Knowledge and Understanding
Students will acquire a systemic knowledge of the main eras, genres, movements, and authors that have characterized Korean cinema from the Japanese colonial period to the present day. They will be able to identify and describe key works, contextualizing them within their respective historical periods and cultural influences. This includes understanding the aesthetic trends, narrative innovations, and cinematic technologies specific to the Korean context, encompassing both North and South Korea.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be capable of critically analyzing individual films and sequences, applying acquired knowledge of film theories and socio-cultural contexts. They will demonstrate the ability to interpret Korean cinematic works not only as artistic products but also as reflections and agents of social, political, and economic changes. They will be able to compare and contrast styles and themes among different directors and periods.

Making Judgements
Students will develop autonomy of judgment in evaluating the artistic quality and cultural impact of Korean films. They will be able to formulate solid critical arguments by considering multiple interpretive perspectives. This includes the ability to recognize the nuances and complexities of the works, avoiding simplifications and cultural stereotypes.

Communication Skills
Students will enhance their communication skills by expressing complex concepts related to the history and analysis of Korean cinema in a clear, coherent, and persuasive manner. This will be fostered through weekly discussions where students will engage with a film assigned by the professor, relevant to the period or genre of focus for that particular lesson.

Learning Skills
Students will demonstrate strong learning skills, acquiring the methodological tools to independently continue their study of Korean cinema and other film traditions. They will be able to identify pertinent resources, conduct bibliographic and filmographic research, and update their knowledge in this field.

No specific prerequisites in the field of film studies are required; however, it is desirable that students have a good knowledge of Korean history, particularly the 20th century, acquired through (but not exclusively) the learning objectives of the course "History and Institutions of Modern and Contemporary Korea." It is preferable that students have an intermediate level of English (B2) to be able to explore the topics discussed in class, using the reference texts.

The course aims to offer students some perspectives on the theoretical approach to the investigation of Korean cinema from an identity perspective and beyond, starting with the first screenings in the early 20th century, passing through the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War, and then focusing on South Korea by analysing the forms of propaganda and resistance that characterised its cinema during the two military governments, and finally arriving at the dynamics that led to the current international success of Korean cinema. A focus will also be devoted to the cinema of North Korea.
The lectures will adopt both a diachronic approach, tracing the evolution of the Korean film industry and its main authors from the 1930s to the present day, and a synchronic one, focusing on a series of pivotal themes around which the construction and problematisation of contemporary Korean identity in cinema revolves.
The analysis of cinema in Korea will also allow us to reflect on the cultural dynamics of the film industry (festivals, star system, international awards, quota system, etc.) and how they have influenced relations with neighbouring countries and industries, in particular China, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong; on the different political practices (in some cases close to "soft power" dynamics) involving film production and distribution in Asia but also in the global market and the transition towards a global aesthetic in spite of what have long been analysed as national cinemas. In line with the most advanced international studies in the field of cinema in relation to political and social changes such as film festival studies and in direct contact with the practices of audiovisual production and distribution, the course provides students with both a historical-theoretical basis and keys to interpretations more directly related to the practices of cinema, orienting them towards the main moments in which the audiovisual industry is articulated: production, circulation and distribution.

Compulsory materials will be provided by the teacher during classes (Powerpoint slides) and on the MOODLE platform (PDF files)

Written examination consisting of three essay questions

*In case of online exams an oral test will replace the written examination

written

A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- limited ability to analyze and interpret film texts;
- sufficient communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.
B. Scores in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- discrete ability to analyze and interpret film texts;
- fair communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.
C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- good or excellent ability to analyze and interpret film texts;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.
D. The "cum laude" mark will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding, excellent judgment and excellent communication skills.

In the lectures, video materials will be used to supplement and enrich the knowledge learned orally.

At the end of each lesson, a film is assigned to be watched at home and discussed in class the following week.