Representation and Image Theories
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the students with an in-depth knowledge of the main representation and image theories. The proposed historical-critical path will address the fundamental questions and authors of this specific disciplinary field, which belongs to the wider domain of the aesthetic discipline (intended both as a theory of sensibility and as a theory of art), also taking into consideration its interdisciplinary connections with other domains such as: semiotics, art history, history of literature, media history and theory, psychology, anthropology, cognitive neurosciences.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the course, the students will be able to master and discuss the main representation and image theories developed within the Western cultural tradition, with a particular emphasis on the contemporary debate. Along this path, the students will learn to hold a critical confrontation with the fundamental authors and concepts of this disciplinary domain, understanding its methods and being able to use its specific terminology.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The students will acquire the skills necessary to apply the conceptual framework of the main representation and image theories to situations pertaining to the strategies of representation in the widest sense of the term and to the experience of the image (both artistic and non-artistic), having recourse to an adequate specific lexicon. They will be able to critically discuss the main theoretical models and to orient themselves in the corresponding literature. They will apply the acquired competences to the reading and critical comment of fundamental texts in representation and image theory. They will be encouraged to propose autonomous and original solutions to problems arising from the common discussion.
At the end of the course, the students will be able to master and discuss the main representation and image theories developed within the Western cultural tradition, with a particular emphasis on the contemporary debate. Along this path, the students will learn to hold a critical confrontation with the fundamental authors and concepts of this disciplinary domain, understanding its methods and being able to use its specific terminology.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The students will acquire the skills necessary to apply the conceptual framework of the main representation and image theories to situations pertaining to the strategies of representation in the widest sense of the term and to the experience of the image (both artistic and non-artistic), having recourse to an adequate specific lexicon. They will be able to critically discuss the main theoretical models and to orient themselves in the corresponding literature. They will apply the acquired competences to the reading and critical comment of fundamental texts in representation and image theory. They will be encouraged to propose autonomous and original solutions to problems arising from the common discussion.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
During the ongoing covid emergency, the course syllabus will be maintained the same as originally designed for face-to-face teaching.
The lessons will be held in dual mode. The face-to-face lessons will allow the participation of students connected with MSTeams as well as students in the classroom.
The recordings of the lessons will remain available for the entire academic year
Online environments used:
Teams (keycode: bif2o22)
Students wishing to participate in face-to-face lessons must refer to the following University provisions: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students wishing to participate in MSTeams lessons must refer to the following technical guides: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/technology-and-online-services/microsoft-office-365-education
To participate in the exam sessions, students must refer to the following provisions:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/sitting-exams
The lessons will be held in dual mode. The face-to-face lessons will allow the participation of students connected with MSTeams as well as students in the classroom.
The recordings of the lessons will remain available for the entire academic year
Online environments used:
Teams (keycode: bif2o22)
Students wishing to participate in face-to-face lessons must refer to the following University provisions: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students wishing to participate in MSTeams lessons must refer to the following technical guides: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/technology-and-online-services/microsoft-office-365-education
To participate in the exam sessions, students must refer to the following provisions:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/sitting-exams
Course syllabus
The course is divided into three teaching units. The first unit, entitled "Theories of the image", will present the main methodological paradigms developed in the Western cultural tradition to conceptualize our image experience. The second unit, entitled "Ontologies/rethinking the photographic", will deal with the nature of the technical image from the theory of the photographic to the theory of the digital. The third unit, entitled "What images do (to us). From animation to premediation", will focus on the life and animation of images as part of the renewal of animistic paradigm in anthropology and the humanities.
Prerequisites for admission
NONE
Teaching methods
Lectures, discussions, reading texts, projections, watching and analyzing still and moving images.
Teaching Resources
Assignments for both 6 (UNITS A+B) and 9 ECTS (UNITS A+B+C) exams:
Unit A - Theories of the image
1. PLATO, On mimesis
2. CH. S. PEIRCE, What is a sign
3. E. HUSSERL, On image consciousness
4. A. WARBURG, H. WÖLFFLIN, On style
5. E. PANOFSKY, Iconography and iconology
6. D. KATZ, Laws of form
7. M. FOUCAULT-This is not a pipe
8. W.J.T. MITCHELL, Showing seeing
9. R. WOLLHEIM, Seeing-as, seeing-in, and pictorial representation
10. K. WALTON, Pictures and make-believe
UNIT B - ONTOLOGIES/RETHINKING THE PHOTOGRAPHIC
1. S. SONTAG, On Photography
2. A. BAZIN, The Ontology of the Photographic Image
3. G. DIDI-HUBERMAN, Images in Spite of All: Four Photographs from Auschwitz
4. V. FLUSSER, Toward a Philosophy of Photography
5. L. MULVEY, Visual pleasure and narrative cinema
6. J. EVANS, Photography (in Feminist Visual Culture)
7. T. GUNNING, Tracing the Individual Body. Photography, Detectives and Early Cinema
8. H. FAROCKI, Phantom images
9. M. JABLONOWSKI, Beyond drone vision: the embodied telepresence of first-person-view drone flight
10. K. A. GATES, Our Biometric Future. Facial Recognition Technology and the Culture of Surveillance
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exams only:
UNIT C - WHAT IMAGES DO (TO US). FROM ANIMATION TO PREMEDIATION
1. D. FREEDBERG, The Power of Images
2. M. MERLEAU-PONTY, Eye and Mind
3. H. STEYERL, In defence of the poor image
4. S. PAPAPETROS, Animation Victims
5. T. INGOLD, Rethinking the animate, re-animating thought
6. A.S. HOEL, Operative Images. Inroads to a New Paradigm of Media Theory
7. V. SOBCHACK, Animation and Automation, or, the Incredible Effortfulness of Being
8. J. BUTLER, Performative Acts and Gender Constitution
9. R. GRUSIN, Premediation
Additional assignments for NON ATTENDING students:
· 6 CFU: H. Bredekamp, Image Acts: a Systematic Approach to Visual Agency, De Gruyter, Boston, 2017, chapters: 2, 3, 4, 5.
· 9 CFU: H. Bredekamp, Image Acts: a Systematic Approach to Visual Agency, De Gruyter, Boston, 2017: the entire volume.
Slides and other digital resources will be available on Teams: bif2o22 (section FILE).
Unit A - Theories of the image
1. PLATO, On mimesis
2. CH. S. PEIRCE, What is a sign
3. E. HUSSERL, On image consciousness
4. A. WARBURG, H. WÖLFFLIN, On style
5. E. PANOFSKY, Iconography and iconology
6. D. KATZ, Laws of form
7. M. FOUCAULT-This is not a pipe
8. W.J.T. MITCHELL, Showing seeing
9. R. WOLLHEIM, Seeing-as, seeing-in, and pictorial representation
10. K. WALTON, Pictures and make-believe
UNIT B - ONTOLOGIES/RETHINKING THE PHOTOGRAPHIC
1. S. SONTAG, On Photography
2. A. BAZIN, The Ontology of the Photographic Image
3. G. DIDI-HUBERMAN, Images in Spite of All: Four Photographs from Auschwitz
4. V. FLUSSER, Toward a Philosophy of Photography
5. L. MULVEY, Visual pleasure and narrative cinema
6. J. EVANS, Photography (in Feminist Visual Culture)
7. T. GUNNING, Tracing the Individual Body. Photography, Detectives and Early Cinema
8. H. FAROCKI, Phantom images
9. M. JABLONOWSKI, Beyond drone vision: the embodied telepresence of first-person-view drone flight
10. K. A. GATES, Our Biometric Future. Facial Recognition Technology and the Culture of Surveillance
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exams only:
UNIT C - WHAT IMAGES DO (TO US). FROM ANIMATION TO PREMEDIATION
1. D. FREEDBERG, The Power of Images
2. M. MERLEAU-PONTY, Eye and Mind
3. H. STEYERL, In defence of the poor image
4. S. PAPAPETROS, Animation Victims
5. T. INGOLD, Rethinking the animate, re-animating thought
6. A.S. HOEL, Operative Images. Inroads to a New Paradigm of Media Theory
7. V. SOBCHACK, Animation and Automation, or, the Incredible Effortfulness of Being
8. J. BUTLER, Performative Acts and Gender Constitution
9. R. GRUSIN, Premediation
Additional assignments for NON ATTENDING students:
· 6 CFU: H. Bredekamp, Image Acts: a Systematic Approach to Visual Agency, De Gruyter, Boston, 2017, chapters: 2, 3, 4, 5.
· 9 CFU: H. Bredekamp, Image Acts: a Systematic Approach to Visual Agency, De Gruyter, Boston, 2017: the entire volume.
Slides and other digital resources will be available on Teams: bif2o22 (section FILE).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final examination consists of a written test concerning the course topics and testing the knowledge and skills acquired by students, with a particular focus on concepts and examples. The test (In English) will consist in three open questions: 1) analysis of an image similar to those discussed during classes; 2) discussion of a theoretical problem related to the first teaching unit; 3) discussion of a theoretical problem related to the second/third teaching unit.
The grading system (based on a 0-30 scale, 18 being the lowest passing mark) will correspond to:
- knowledge level of the theoretical aspects;
- the ability to apply concepts to case studies;
- making judgments;
- ability to argue through a specific conceptual and linguistic property
The grading system (based on a 0-30 scale, 18 being the lowest passing mark) will correspond to:
- knowledge level of the theoretical aspects;
- the ability to apply concepts to case studies;
- making judgments;
- ability to argue through a specific conceptual and linguistic property
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Pinotti Andrea
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Grespi Barbara
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/04 - AESTHETICS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Dalmasso Anna Caterina
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 4-6 p.m. Please contact me to schedule an appointment
Festa del Perdono campus or Microsoft Teams
Reception:
From December 2024: On Monday from 10 to 13 (please send me an email at least a day before).
Dipartimento di filosofia, second floor, and/or Teams
Reception:
In person and on-line (on TEAMS) office hours: please contact me via e-mail from @studenti.unimi.it
Dip. di Filosofia "Piero Martinetti", 2 floor