Teaching Workshop
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
This seminar aims to introduce students to the interdisciplinary methodology of the field of the history of emotions, with special attention to research in the area which has focused on the medieval period; the specific objectives of the seminar are: 1) providing students with the tools to apply this methology to their own research, and in particular to their Master's dissertation; 2) encouraging them to reflect independently about the epistemology of emotions as phenomena that are at the same time universal and historically and culturally determined.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the seminar students will have acquired a solid knowledge of how the field of the history of emotions developed in the western world (with special attention to the Anglo-American, Francophone and Italian context) from the early 20th century onwards. They will be able to make use of the principal methodological tools elaborated in this field, such as the concepts of emotional communities, emotional regimes and emotional scripts, which they will be in the position to apply to a variety of medieval sources, such as chronicles, literary texts and archival sources. Through a guided reading and analysis of historical works engaging with other disciplines, such as the neurosciences and cultural anthropology, moreover, students will be encouraged to reflect on the role played by emotions in some important contemporary debates (e.g. whether a universal human nature exists, what the relationship between individual and collectivity is, how emotions are manipulated in politics and advertising ). Lessons will involve a continuous discussion with the instructor, and will comprise both lectures and collective discussions, as well as presentations by the students on specific articles and themes related to the history of medieval emotions. Students who cannot attend the seminar in person will be able to utilise the didactic materials provided by the instructor on Ariel (such as journal articles, excerpts from primary sources, reading lists for further study), be assigned further reading on topics agreed with the instructor, and contact the instructor both via email and during office hours.
Lesson period: First semester
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
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.
Course syllabus
The history of emotions has deep roots in Western historiography, but it has undergone a particularly intense development in terms of methodologies, concepts, and results in the last two decades. As far as the medieval period is concerned, it has been successfully applied not only to understand how emotions were conceived during this period and how their expression was regulated, but also to investigate areas such as conflict management, the development of courts of justice, family history and the spread of religious devotions. This workshop aims to provide students with the basic knowledge to approach this discipline and to understand how it can be used in research on medieval history. The first three lessons will therefore focus on the development of the history of emotions from the beginning of the twentieth century, through the School of the Annales, to the programmatic texts of the 1990s and the third millennium. Afterwards, the key concepts and the main methodologies currently used by historians of emotions will be analysed and the focus will be on how to apply them to various types of medieval sources. In the second half of the workshop, on the other hand, students will be asked to demonstrate the knowledge acquired during the first part of the course by preparing at least one critical presentation of a text (article or book chapter) on the history of emotions in the Middle Ages, which will be followed by a discussion among all the course participants of the readings presented in class.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for the degree admission.
Teaching methods
Attendance of the lessons is compulsory (except in circumstances agreed with the teacher). The workshop consists of lessons aimed at providing the student with the basic tools to use the history of emotions in research on medieval history. The following elements will form an integral part of the course programme:
- Knowledge of the historiography on the history of emotions from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day, and of the differences between the various schools that have emerged in this discipline.
- Knowledge of the main methods and concepts developed to study emotions in the Middle Ages and ability to apply them to the analysis of primary sources.
- Ability to critically analyse texts on the history of emotions in the Middle Ages.
- Presentation in class of at least one text on the history of emotions in the Middle Ages (of the duration of ca. 20 minutes), focusing on its contents, its author and their historiographical background, the concepts and methodologies used, the use of primary sources, and the weaknesses/strengths of the text.
Short lectures will alternate with group discussions and presentations by the students. Discussion with the teacher is an integral part of the course and is aimed at developing the students' critical thinking when reading and analysing historical texts.
- Knowledge of the historiography on the history of emotions from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day, and of the differences between the various schools that have emerged in this discipline.
- Knowledge of the main methods and concepts developed to study emotions in the Middle Ages and ability to apply them to the analysis of primary sources.
- Ability to critically analyse texts on the history of emotions in the Middle Ages.
- Presentation in class of at least one text on the history of emotions in the Middle Ages (of the duration of ca. 20 minutes), focusing on its contents, its author and their historiographical background, the concepts and methodologies used, the use of primary sources, and the weaknesses/strengths of the text.
Short lectures will alternate with group discussions and presentations by the students. Discussion with the teacher is an integral part of the course and is aimed at developing the students' critical thinking when reading and analysing historical texts.
Teaching Resources
-Knowledge of the subjects addressed in class.
Students will be able to access the didactic materials uploaded by the instructor on the platform Ariel (e.g. journal articles, sources and reading lists that can be useful to delve deeper into specific topics related to the workshop)
Students will be able to access the didactic materials uploaded by the instructor on the platform Ariel (e.g. journal articles, sources and reading lists that can be useful to delve deeper into specific topics related to the workshop)
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Method: evaluation at the end of the course.
-Type of examination: in addition to attending and actively participating in the classes, it is mandatory to
prepare a presentation to fellow students of at least a text (article or book chapter) on the history of emotions in the Middle Ages, to be chosen with the assistance of the teacher.
- Evaluation criteria: ability to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; ability to reflect critically on the work carried out; quality of expression, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity.
- Type of evaluation method: approval of 3 CFU.
The assessment methods for students with disabilities must be discussed in advance with the lecturer.
-Type of examination: in addition to attending and actively participating in the classes, it is mandatory to
prepare a presentation to fellow students of at least a text (article or book chapter) on the history of emotions in the Middle Ages, to be chosen with the assistance of the teacher.
- Evaluation criteria: ability to demonstrate and elaborate knowledge; ability to reflect critically on the work carried out; quality of expression, competence in the use of specialised lexicon, efficacy, clarity.
- Type of evaluation method: approval of 3 CFU.
The assessment methods for students with disabilities must be discussed in advance with the lecturer.
- University credits: 3
Humanities workshops: 20 hours
Professor:
Zanetti Domingues Lidia Luisa