Workshop: Talking About Politics: Editorial Practices Between Current Affairs and Popularization
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The workshop undertakes an analysis of the forms of political communication from the genesis of modern "public opinion" to the present day. The transformations of political communication are presented and discussed from a historical and theoretical perspective, privileging in both cases the aspect relating to the practical exercise of writing and media production in the scientific and journalistic-generalist spheres.
Expected learning outcomes
The programme is designed to equip students with the critical and operational tools necessary to understand and contribute to the processes of elaboration and dissemination of political discourse in the public sphere. The initial segment of the workshop is devoted to a theoretical reconnaissance, while the subsequent segment provides an opportunity for students to engage with editorial practices that are pertinent to political communication from a professional standpoint.
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
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Lesson Plan:
1: Introduction: political communication and its forms
2: How to do things with words: political discourse and political action
3: How to do things with words: power and performativity
4: The public, the opinion, the public opinion: the modern and the contemporary age
5: The public, the opinion, the public opinion: the global age
6: Scientific editorial practices: norms and structure
7: Scientific editorial practices: epistemology and politics
8: General editorial practices: the public and the media
9: General editorial practices: truth and post-truth
10: Conclusion
1: Introduction: political communication and its forms
2: How to do things with words: political discourse and political action
3: How to do things with words: power and performativity
4: The public, the opinion, the public opinion: the modern and the contemporary age
5: The public, the opinion, the public opinion: the global age
6: Scientific editorial practices: norms and structure
7: Scientific editorial practices: epistemology and politics
8: General editorial practices: the public and the media
9: General editorial practices: truth and post-truth
10: Conclusion
Prerequisites for admission
There are no specific requirements different from those requested for admission to the BA degree in Humanistic sciences for communication and in Publishing and Communication, Fashion Cultures.
Teaching methods
Theaching is delivered through frontal lectures, but discussion with the teacher in the classrom is an integral part of the teaching method and aims at promoting a critical attitude and the capacity to apply the acquired competence and knowledge. Participation will be encouraged through discussion of the teaching materials.
Teaching Resources
Throughout the duration of the course, the following volumes will be made available for the purpose of reading, discussion and in-depth exploration:
- G. Pasquino, Parole della politica (il Mulino)
- E. Caniglia, Forme della comunicazione politica (Utet)
- M. Bellabarba, G. Corni (a cura di), La comunicazione nella politica dal Medioevo al Novecento (Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura)
- S. Bentivegna, D. Campus, A. Valeriani, La comunicazione politica contemporanea (il Mulino)
- W. Lippmann, L'opinione pubblica (Donzelli)
- S. Splendore, Giornalismo ibrido (Carocci)
- J. Habermas, Storia e critica dell'opinione pubblica (Laterza)
- H. Arendt, Vita Activa. La condizione umana (Bompiani)
- G. Mazzoleni, R. Bracciale, La politica pop online (il Mulino)
- J.L. Austin, Come fare cose con le parole (Marietti 1820)
- J.R. Searle, Atti linguistici (Bollati Boringhieri)
- P. Bourdieu, La parola e il potere: l'economia degli scambi linguistici (Guida)
- T. Kuhn, La struttura delle rivoluzioni scientifiche (Einaudi)
- I. Stengers, Le politiche della ragione (Laterza)
- M. Ferraris, Postverità e altri enigmi (il Mulino)
- M. de Certeau, L'invenzione del quotidiano (Edizioni Lavoro)
- L. McIntyre, Post-verità (Utet)
- C. Ginzburg, Il filo e le tracce. Vero, falso, finto (Quodlibet)
- B. Manin, Principi del governo rappresentativo (il Mulino)
- L. Ceccarini, I. Diamanti, Tra politica e società (il Mulino)
- J. Butler, Vite precarie. Potere, parola, violenza (Meltemi)
- G. Lakoff, Pensiero politico e scienza della mente (Mondadori)
- G. Pasquino, Parole della politica (il Mulino)
- E. Caniglia, Forme della comunicazione politica (Utet)
- M. Bellabarba, G. Corni (a cura di), La comunicazione nella politica dal Medioevo al Novecento (Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura)
- S. Bentivegna, D. Campus, A. Valeriani, La comunicazione politica contemporanea (il Mulino)
- W. Lippmann, L'opinione pubblica (Donzelli)
- S. Splendore, Giornalismo ibrido (Carocci)
- J. Habermas, Storia e critica dell'opinione pubblica (Laterza)
- H. Arendt, Vita Activa. La condizione umana (Bompiani)
- G. Mazzoleni, R. Bracciale, La politica pop online (il Mulino)
- J.L. Austin, Come fare cose con le parole (Marietti 1820)
- J.R. Searle, Atti linguistici (Bollati Boringhieri)
- P. Bourdieu, La parola e il potere: l'economia degli scambi linguistici (Guida)
- T. Kuhn, La struttura delle rivoluzioni scientifiche (Einaudi)
- I. Stengers, Le politiche della ragione (Laterza)
- M. Ferraris, Postverità e altri enigmi (il Mulino)
- M. de Certeau, L'invenzione del quotidiano (Edizioni Lavoro)
- L. McIntyre, Post-verità (Utet)
- C. Ginzburg, Il filo e le tracce. Vero, falso, finto (Quodlibet)
- B. Manin, Principi del governo rappresentativo (il Mulino)
- L. Ceccarini, I. Diamanti, Tra politica e società (il Mulino)
- J. Butler, Vite precarie. Potere, parola, violenza (Meltemi)
- G. Lakoff, Pensiero politico e scienza della mente (Mondadori)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Class participation and the writing of a short final paper on the topics covered in class will contribute to the assessment of learning. The assessment will take into account the ability to understand the content covered, critical analysis skills, and clarity of presentation and argumentation.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours will take place both remotely and in person, with appointment: Tuesday, 13 pm -16 pm. For an appointment, please send an email.
In person: Classrom A3, Sant'Alessandro square, 1.