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Strategies in Screen Industries

People

Dagnino G.

Course director

Prario B.

Course director

Description

Course Objectives

At the end of the course students will have:

  • an in-depth knowledge about the economic principles that govern screen industries and the main market trends;
  • the ability to identify the political and socio-cultural factors that influence screen industries’ business in different geographic areas.

Course Description

The course investigates screen industries and their evolution in the last few decades. In particular, it focuses on:

a) the strategies adopted by public and private companies;

b) the policies introduced by supra-national institutions and organizations (European Union, WTO, etc.), as well as by national governments and local/regional public administrations;

c) screen industries’ market performances.

 

The course is composed of two parts:

  • The first one is focused on the screen industries, mainly on their strategies (integration, internationalization, diversification, etc.) and business models in the main European countries and in Switzerland. New forms of digital television (as web TV and mobile TV) videogames and books evolution (as audiobooks) are analyzed.
  • The second one focuses on the film industry and investigates traditional as well as emerging models of film financing, production, distribution, and consumption. Particular attention will be paid to film policy and public film financing that regulate and support film business in Europe and Switzerland. 

Learning Methods

The course will be structured in lectures led by the two teachers. Sessions will be accompanied with power point presentations and video clips.

 

Attendance

Students’ class attendance is not mandatory, even if strongly encouraged. Teachers will not provide alternative teaching materials for non-attending students.

 

Examination Information

The final grade will be composed of the results achieved by students in: 

  • presentation of a case study analysis (30% of the final evaluation)
  • oral exam (70% on the final evaluation)

Required Material

The following readings are mandatory for the second part of the course and will be uploaded on the iCorsi platform:

  • Tom Schatz (2008), “The studio system and conglomerate Hollywood” in Paul McDonald and Janet Wasko (eds.), The contemporary Hollywood film industry, Malden, MA; Oxford : Blackwell: 13-40.
  • Antonios Vlassis (2021), “Global online platforms, COVID-19, and culture: The global pandemic, an accelerator towards which direction?”, Media, Culture & Society, Vol. 43(5): 957-969.

Students are also expected to study their personal notes and the slides and teaching materials discussed during the lectures.

Education