History of Printing and Publishing
A.Y. 2021/2022
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
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/22 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
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.
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/22 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation.
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
Mobility of texts, instability of editions (XV-XVIIIC.)
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 then analyzes the various reasons that, during the Ancient Régime, explain the mobility of texts: after leaving the author's hands, they become something very different in typography, or in theatrical performance, or in translation into another language, or in the revision of censorship (part B). Finally, in the third part, it considers reading practices, taking into account the problems of literacy, language, and educational processes, elements that condition the fruition of texts (part C).
Part A (20 hours; 3 cfu): Continuity and transformations in written culture between XV and XVI C.
Part B (20 hours; 3 cfu): Mobility of texts, instability of editions (XV-XVIIIC.)
Part C (20 hours; 3 cfu): Readings, Language, and Readers.
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 then analyzes the various reasons that, during the Ancient Régime, explain the mobility of texts: after leaving the author's hands, they become something very different in typography, or in theatrical performance, or in translation into another language, or in the revision of censorship (part B). Finally, in the third part, it considers reading practices, taking into account the problems of literacy, language, and educational processes, elements that condition the fruition of texts (part C).
Part A (20 hours; 3 cfu): Continuity and transformations in written culture between XV and XVI C.
Part B (20 hours; 3 cfu): Mobility of texts, instability of editions (XV-XVIIIC.)
Part C (20 hours; 3 cfu): Readings, Language, and Readers.
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.
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
Part A (20 hours; 3 cfu): Continuity and transformations in written culture between XV and XVI C.
One book among the followings:
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.
Part B (20 hours; 3 cfu): Mobility of texts, instability of editions (XV-XVIII
Two books among the followings:
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.
G. Fragnito, Rinascimento proibito. La letteratura italiana al vaglio dei censori (XV-XVII secc.), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019.
Part C (20 hours; 3 cfu): Readings, Language, and Readers.
One book among the followings:
M. Roggero, Le vie dei libri. Letture, lingua e pubblico nell'Italia moderna, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2021.
E. Testa, L'italiano nascosto. Una storia linguistica e culturale, Torino, Einaudi, 2014.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS: for 9 cfu teaching they have to bring the texts provided by the teaching parts A, B and C plus a book of their choice in the following list; those for 6 cfu they have to bring the texts provided by the teaching parts 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.
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)
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 (only chapters 1,2,3).
Part A (20 hours; 3 cfu): Continuity and transformations in written culture between XV and XVI C.
One book among the followings:
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.
Part B (20 hours; 3 cfu): Mobility of texts, instability of editions (XV-XVIII
Two books among the followings:
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.
G. Fragnito, Rinascimento proibito. La letteratura italiana al vaglio dei censori (XV-XVII secc.), Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019.
Part C (20 hours; 3 cfu): Readings, Language, and Readers.
One book among the followings:
M. Roggero, Le vie dei libri. Letture, lingua e pubblico nell'Italia moderna, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2021.
E. Testa, L'italiano nascosto. Una storia linguistica e culturale, Torino, Einaudi, 2014.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS: for 9 cfu teaching they have to bring the texts provided by the teaching parts A, B and C plus a book of their choice in the following list; those for 6 cfu they have to bring the texts provided by the teaching parts 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.
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)
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 (only chapters 1,2,3).
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