Cultural Geography
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The first part of the course aims at introducing the students to a critical reflection on the theoretical and practice content of cultural geography, from its origins to its various branches. It will also present the New Cultural Geography that, since the 1980s of the 20th century, has paved the way to the classic themes of cultural geography (spaces, places and landscapes, in the light of the following approaches: marxist, psychoanalitical, postmodern, of gender studies and of cultural studies). The second part of the course will analyze in particular the humanistic and literary aspects of cultural geography in order to introduce students to a successful intertwining between Geography and Literature.
Expected learning outcomes
At the of the course students should have acquired the ability to understand the symbolic and metaphorical meanings of the cultural processes characterizing places and made explicit in specific symbolic forms and landscape patterns. This year's syllabus, in particular, will require students to show knowledge and understanding of the geographical meanings and dimensions of the mobilities in the third Millenium.
Lesson period: First 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
Lesson period
First semester
Teaching methods
The lessons will be held on the Microsoft Teams platform and can be followed both synchronously, based on the timetable of the first semester, and asynchronously and uploaded on that same platform.
Course syllabus and Teaching Resources
The contents and reference material will not be changed.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will be an oral test through the Microsoft Teams platform or, if so permitted by regulation, in person as an oral test.
The examination, in particular, will be aimed at:
- ascertaining the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and comprehension;
- ascertaining the ability to apply knowledge and understanding through the discussion of case studies presented during the lessons;
- verifying the student's autonomy of judgment also through the case studies discussed during the lessons;
- ascertaining the mastery of the specific language concerning the Cultural Geography and the ability to present the topics in a clear and orderly manner.
The lessons will be held on the Microsoft Teams platform and can be followed both synchronously, based on the timetable of the first semester, and asynchronously and uploaded on that same platform.
Course syllabus and Teaching Resources
The contents and reference material will not be changed.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will be an oral test through the Microsoft Teams platform or, if so permitted by regulation, in person as an oral test.
The examination, in particular, will be aimed at:
- ascertaining the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and comprehension;
- ascertaining the ability to apply knowledge and understanding through the discussion of case studies presented during the lessons;
- verifying the student's autonomy of judgment also through the case studies discussed during the lessons;
- ascertaining the mastery of the specific language concerning the Cultural Geography and the ability to present the topics in a clear and orderly manner.
Course syllabus
The first part of the course aims at introducing the students to a critical reflection on contents, practices and instruments of cultural geography, from its origins to the present day. It will present the New Cultural Geography that, since the 1980s of the 20th century, has paved the way to the traditional themes of cultural geography (spaces, territories, places and landscapes) in the light of the approaches neo-marxist, psychoanalytical, postmodern, of gender studies and spiritualists. These skills complement the education of high-profile experts in the field of intercultural communication and international cooperation.
The second part of the course focuses on the potential of different artistic forms for the understanding of contemporary geographical phenomena. Literature, cinema, photography, music and other art forms represent sources of extraordinary value for the understanding of the cultural relationship between individuals and societies who inhabit the planet and the places, landscapes and environments that characterize the different regions. A variety of artistic sources will be used to show students how to study geography from these sources, in order to educate them to interpret the complex meanings attributed by human beings to the space they live in.
Please note that starting from the Academic Year 2020-21 it is possible to attend the exam only for 6 CFU.
The possibility of taking the exam for 3 CFU is reserved EXCLUSIVELY for students matriculated in the academic year 2019-20 or in previous academic years. In this case students must prepare only teaching unit A.
The second part of the course focuses on the potential of different artistic forms for the understanding of contemporary geographical phenomena. Literature, cinema, photography, music and other art forms represent sources of extraordinary value for the understanding of the cultural relationship between individuals and societies who inhabit the planet and the places, landscapes and environments that characterize the different regions. A variety of artistic sources will be used to show students how to study geography from these sources, in order to educate them to interpret the complex meanings attributed by human beings to the space they live in.
Please note that starting from the Academic Year 2020-21 it is possible to attend the exam only for 6 CFU.
The possibility of taking the exam for 3 CFU is reserved EXCLUSIVELY for students matriculated in the academic year 2019-20 or in previous academic years. In this case students must prepare only teaching unit A.
Prerequisites for admission
Students should know the main concepts of human geography (environment, population, territory, landscape) and of regional and urban geography.
Teaching methods
Lectures useful to privilege the logical-conceptual language; participatory lessons supported by images, pictures, cartographic and paracartographic representations to strengthen the learning of the visual and iconographic language; interactive lessons conducted by the teacher and by experts on specific topics.
Teaching Resources
The teaching will be organized in two teaching unit:
Teaching unit A
- E-learning lessons and documents uploaded on "Ariel" digital teaching platform.
- Banini T., Geografie culturali, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2019.
Teaching unit B
- E-learning lessons and documents uploaded on "Ariel" digital teaching platform.
- One text from this list:
Marengo M., Geografia e letteratura. Piccolo manuale d'uso, Pàtron, Bologna, 2016
Bignante E., Geografia e ricerca visuale. Strumenti e metodi, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2011.
Squarcina E., L' ultimo spazio di libertà. Un approccio umanistico e culturale alla geografia del mare, Guerini, Milano, 2015.
Amato F., Dell'Agnese E. (a cura di), Schermi americani. Geografia e geopolitica degli Stati Uniti nelle serie televisive, Unicopli, Milano, 2015.
Please note that starting from the Academic Year 2020-21 it is possible to attend the exam only for 6 CFU.
The possibility of taking the exam for 3 CFU is reserved EXCLUSIVELY for students matriculated in the academic year 2019-20 or in previous academic years. In this case students must prepare only teaching unit A.
Students who cannot attend the lessons must contact the teachers by e-mail.
Teaching unit A
- E-learning lessons and documents uploaded on "Ariel" digital teaching platform.
- Banini T., Geografie culturali, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2019.
Teaching unit B
- E-learning lessons and documents uploaded on "Ariel" digital teaching platform.
- One text from this list:
Marengo M., Geografia e letteratura. Piccolo manuale d'uso, Pàtron, Bologna, 2016
Bignante E., Geografia e ricerca visuale. Strumenti e metodi, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2011.
Squarcina E., L' ultimo spazio di libertà. Un approccio umanistico e culturale alla geografia del mare, Guerini, Milano, 2015.
Amato F., Dell'Agnese E. (a cura di), Schermi americani. Geografia e geopolitica degli Stati Uniti nelle serie televisive, Unicopli, Milano, 2015.
Please note that starting from the Academic Year 2020-21 it is possible to attend the exam only for 6 CFU.
The possibility of taking the exam for 3 CFU is reserved EXCLUSIVELY for students matriculated in the academic year 2019-20 or in previous academic years. In this case students must prepare only teaching unit A.
Students who cannot attend the lessons must contact the teachers by e-mail.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam consists of an oral discussion on the topics described in the program, aimed at checking the knowledge of key themes in Cultural Geography discussed during the lessons and exposed in the reference texts. More specifically, students must demonstrate that they have mastered skills and abilities for the interpretation of disciplinary, cartographic and paracartographic languages useful for the critical analysis on material and immaterial dimensions of culture, in its relationship with time and space. Students must be able to demonstrate specific skills aimed at understanding the meaning of "places" and "landscapes", in relation to their perceptive, semiotic, spiritual and existential connotations. In addition, students will be required to demonstrate that they have achieved appropriate competences, knowledge and skills for the interpretation of geographic phenomena through different artistic sources (literary, cinema, photography, music, etc).
M-GGR/01 - GEOGRAPHY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professors:
Gavinelli Dino, Zanolin Giacomo
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours are held every Tuesday, on a weekly basis, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. It is not necessary to book.
Office hours will be held in presence in the office 1044 in Sesto San Giovanni or, for specific reasons, via skype. The skype address during reception hours is: dinogavinelli.