History of Printing and Publishing
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce the theme of the birth and dissemination of the press in Europe, the elements of continuity within the world of book production, and enjoyment of the manuscript book from the first decades of diffusion of works following Gutenberg's invention of the printing press until the definitive confirmation of the press as a new means of producing books. Along a chronological arc from the mid-15th century to the end of the 18th century, the course aims to analyze the production and circulation of literary texts and forms of censorship control, from the Indexes of banned books to the effects of repressive action on readers. The aim is to bring students' attention to the usefulness of comparing different disciplines: the history of the press is in fact located at the intersection of disciplines such as bibliographic studies, history, literature, sociology, and anthropology, all present in the educational path of the Course of Studies.
Expected learning outcomes
The course aims to lead participants in the acquisition of knowledge of the subject through its different methodological orientations, within the dialogue between cultural history, philology and bibliography; It also intends to stimulate attention to a type of analysis that does not separate the history of the texts from that of their materiality and that always takes into account the historicality of the works and their method of circulation. Students will thus be able to acquire, through the identification of different types of sources, the skills necessary to analyze the historical contexts in which cultural projects, as well as typographical and editorial activities, develop.
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
Lectures will be delivered remotely, partly in synchronous format (Microsoft Teams), partly in asynchronous format recorded on Ariel.
On the course page on Ariel, students will be able to find all the information on the lectures and any changes to the programme and its related documents (bibliography etc).
The lesson calendar will be published by the beginning of the lessons on the ARIEL teaching website.
Reference materials
On the course page on Ariel, students will be able to find all the information on the lectures and any changes to the programme and its related documents (bibliography etc).
Students attending, in addition to the bibliography already reported in the program, will obviously have to know the contents of the lessons, as well as the materials and resources published in the online course.
For students who decide not to make use of the lessons uploaded on the platform, the program for non-attendants will be valid.
Assessement methods and criteria
The examination consists of an oral interview on the scheduled subjects. In case it proves impossible to hold the exam face to face, the exam will take place remotely, in ways which will be communicated on the course page on Ariel at the end of the course.To pass the examination, a sure knowledge of the topics covered during the course is required as well as of the texts indicated.
Lectures will be delivered remotely, partly in synchronous format (Microsoft Teams), partly in asynchronous format recorded on Ariel.
On the course page on Ariel, students will be able to find all the information on the lectures and any changes to the programme and its related documents (bibliography etc).
The lesson calendar will be published by the beginning of the lessons on the ARIEL teaching website.
Reference materials
On the course page on Ariel, students will be able to find all the information on the lectures and any changes to the programme and its related documents (bibliography etc).
Students attending, in addition to the bibliography already reported in the program, will obviously have to know the contents of the lessons, as well as the materials and resources published in the online course.
For students who decide not to make use of the lessons uploaded on the platform, the program for non-attendants will be valid.
Assessement methods and criteria
The examination consists of an oral interview on the scheduled subjects. In case it proves impossible to hold the exam face to face, the exam will take place remotely, in ways which will be communicated on the course page on Ariel at the end of the course.To pass the examination, a sure knowledge of the topics covered during the course is required as well as of the texts indicated.
Course syllabus
Printing Press, Book Professions and Reading in Europe (XV-XVIII C.)
The course aims to analyse how printing has been disseminated throughout Europe, the elements of continuity with production and use of manuscripts in the first decades after Gutenberg's invention until the definitive affirmation of the new means of production of books (part A). It then analyses the professions involved in the production and circulation of the printed book, focusing in particular on the role of "correttori" (editors), translators and booksellers (part B). Finally, the last module ( part C) analyses the different transformations in the history of written culture both in the production and in the fruition of books, up to the recent passage from the printed book to the e-book.
Part A (20 hours; 3 cfu): Continuity and transformations in written culture between XV and XVI
Part B (20 hours; 3 cfu): Book Professions: Printers, "correttori" (editors), translators and booksellers.
Part C (20 hours; 3 cfu): From the printed book to the e-book: book circulation and reading between past and present.
The course aims to analyse how printing has been disseminated throughout Europe, the elements of continuity with production and use of manuscripts in the first decades after Gutenberg's invention until the definitive affirmation of the new means of production of books (part A). It then analyses the professions involved in the production and circulation of the printed book, focusing in particular on the role of "correttori" (editors), translators and booksellers (part B). Finally, the last module ( part C) analyses the different transformations in the history of written culture both in the production and in the fruition of books, up to the recent passage from the printed book to the e-book.
Part A (20 hours; 3 cfu): Continuity and transformations in written culture between XV and XVI
Part B (20 hours; 3 cfu): Book Professions: Printers, "correttori" (editors), translators and booksellers.
Part C (20 hours; 3 cfu): From the printed book to the e-book: book circulation and reading between past and present.
Prerequisites for admission
It is advisable to take this exam after having already passed at least one (general) history exam. Knowledge of a early-modern history high school textbook, at least in its general topics (eg Reformation and Counter-Reformation).
Teaching methods
The topics of the course will be tackled with the help of slides and teaching materials (reproduction of original documents, websites of printing press museums, video, power points).
Teaching Resources
PROGRAMME FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
Attending students will have to know the topics addressed during the on-line lessons and to prepare the books below.
For 6 CFUs: students have to bring the books provided for the units A and B.
For 9 CFUs students have to bring the books provided for the units A, B and C
Unit A (20 hours; 3 cfu): Continuity and Transformations in Written Culture between 15th and 16thC.
A book to choose between these:
L. Braida, Stampa e cultura in Europa tra XV e XVI secolo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014 (o altre edizioni precedenti).
F. Barbier, Storia del libro. Dall'antichità al XX secolo, Bari, Dedalo, 2004, da p. 117 a p. 369.
Unit B (20 hours; 3 cfu): Book Professions: Printers, "correttori" (editors), translators and booksellers.
Two books to choose among these:
L. Braida, Libri di lettere. Le raccolte epistolari del Cinquecento tra inquietudini religiose e 'buon volgare', Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2009 (o edizioni successive).
R. Chartier, Le migrazioni dei testi. Scrivere e tradurre nel XVI e XVII secolo, Roma, Carocci, 2020.
B. Richardson, Stampatori, autori e lettori nell'Italia del Rinascimento, Milano, S. Bonnard, 2004.
P. Trovato, "Con ogni diligenza corretto". La stampa e le revisioni editoriali dei testi letterari italiani (1470-1570), Bologna, Il Mulino, 1991.
Unit C (20 hours; 3 cfu): The book between past and future: historiographical trends
A book to choose between these:
R. Darnton, Un tour de France letterario. Il mondo dei libri alla vigilia della Rivoluzione francese, Roma, Carocci, 2019.
G. Roncaglia, La quarta rivoluzione. Sei lezioni sul futuro del libro, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010 (o edizioni successive)
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS: for 9 cfu teaching they have to bring the texts provided by the teaching units A, B and C plus a book of their choice in the following list; for 6 cfu they have to bring the texts provided by the teaching units A and B plus a book in the following list:
R. Chartier, La mano dell'autore, la mente dello stampatore. Cultura e scrittura nell'Europa moderna, Roma, Carocci, 2015.
R. Darnton, Il futuro del libro, Milano, Adelphi, 2011.
A.Petrucci, La scrittura. Ideologia e rappresentazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1986 ( o ed. successive).
A.Petrucci, Letteratura italiana: una storia attraverso la scrittura , Roma , Carocci, 2017 (soltanto i capp. 1,2,3)
G. Fragnito, Rinascimento proibito. La letteratura italiana al vaglio dei censori (XV-XVII secc.), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019.
Attending students will have to know the topics addressed during the on-line lessons and to prepare the books below.
For 6 CFUs: students have to bring the books provided for the units A and B.
For 9 CFUs students have to bring the books provided for the units A, B and C
Unit A (20 hours; 3 cfu): Continuity and Transformations in Written Culture between 15th and 16thC.
A book to choose between these:
L. Braida, Stampa e cultura in Europa tra XV e XVI secolo, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2014 (o altre edizioni precedenti).
F. Barbier, Storia del libro. Dall'antichità al XX secolo, Bari, Dedalo, 2004, da p. 117 a p. 369.
Unit B (20 hours; 3 cfu): Book Professions: Printers, "correttori" (editors), translators and booksellers.
Two books to choose among these:
L. Braida, Libri di lettere. Le raccolte epistolari del Cinquecento tra inquietudini religiose e 'buon volgare', Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2009 (o edizioni successive).
R. Chartier, Le migrazioni dei testi. Scrivere e tradurre nel XVI e XVII secolo, Roma, Carocci, 2020.
B. Richardson, Stampatori, autori e lettori nell'Italia del Rinascimento, Milano, S. Bonnard, 2004.
P. Trovato, "Con ogni diligenza corretto". La stampa e le revisioni editoriali dei testi letterari italiani (1470-1570), Bologna, Il Mulino, 1991.
Unit C (20 hours; 3 cfu): The book between past and future: historiographical trends
A book to choose between these:
R. Darnton, Un tour de France letterario. Il mondo dei libri alla vigilia della Rivoluzione francese, Roma, Carocci, 2019.
G. Roncaglia, La quarta rivoluzione. Sei lezioni sul futuro del libro, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010 (o edizioni successive)
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS: for 9 cfu teaching they have to bring the texts provided by the teaching units A, B and C plus a book of their choice in the following list; for 6 cfu they have to bring the texts provided by the teaching units A and B plus a book in the following list:
R. Chartier, La mano dell'autore, la mente dello stampatore. Cultura e scrittura nell'Europa moderna, Roma, Carocci, 2015.
R. Darnton, Il futuro del libro, Milano, Adelphi, 2011.
A.Petrucci, La scrittura. Ideologia e rappresentazione, Torino, Einaudi, 1986 ( o ed. successive).
A.Petrucci, Letteratura italiana: una storia attraverso la scrittura , Roma , Carocci, 2017 (soltanto i capp. 1,2,3)
G. Fragnito, Rinascimento proibito. La letteratura italiana al vaglio dei censori (XV-XVII secc.), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists of an oral interview on the scheduled subjects. In case it proves impossible to hold the exam face to face, the exam will take place remotely, in ways which will be communicated on the course page on Ariel at the end of the course.To pass the examination, a sure knowledge of the topics covered during the course is required as well as of the texts indicated. The vote is expressed in 30th.
Erasmus students will have the possibility, if they request so, to take the exam in English, according to a syllabus agreed with the teacher.
The examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or DSA will have to be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the DSA office.
Erasmus students will have the possibility, if they request so, to take the exam in English, according to a syllabus agreed with the teacher.
The examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or DSA will have to be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the DSA office.
Unita' didattica A
M-STO/08 - ARCHIVAL SCIENCE, BIBLIOGRAPHY AND LIBRARIANSHIP - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/08 - ARCHIVAL SCIENCE, BIBLIOGRAPHY AND LIBRARIANSHIP - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-STO/08 - ARCHIVAL SCIENCE, BIBLIOGRAPHY AND LIBRARIANSHIP - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours