Learning objectives
Expected learning outcomes: critical knowledge of the main disciplinary notions and aspects. Knowledge and comprehension: oriented towards a critical analysis of the information discussed in class; contextualization of the discussed topics within the interdisciplinary field of social sciences and understanding of the interdisciplinary crossings.
Ability to apply knowledge and comprehension: autonomous and critical use of the research instruments and of the geographical-historical notions discussed in class and explained in the texts.
Authonomy in judgment: this is the overall main objective of the course, with a particular reference to the acquisition of a critical consciousness of the spatial and territorial aspects related to human mobility. Communicative abilities: acquisition of a critical, though not necessarily technical, language, which allows to distinguish and discuss the characteristics of a phenomenon beyond the simplifications and the generalizations produced by mediascapes. Learning capacity: proportional to individual abilities.
Prerequisites
None
Course unit content
The course will focus on the contribution given by geographical studies to the analysis of the contemporary migratory movements. Migratory mobility is a phenomenon that characterizes contemporary societies at different scales and different intensities, acquiring in the last decades growing importance and centrality, not without dramatic consequences. The course aims at offering an overview of the phenomenon at a global scale, with a specific focus on the Mediterranean basin and the Italian context in particular. The approach, based on the perspectives of research offered by geography of population, cultural geography and geography of perception, will profit from an interdisciplinary approach, which will take into consideration the richness of the different contributions offered by sociology, anthropology, demography, psichology, law studies, history etc.). The course will include analysis of both quantitative aspects of the migratory phenomena (with the use of materials such as statistics, data, tables, maps) and at the same time qualitative perspectives that offer a glimpse on the individual and personal itineraries of migration (with the use of research methodologies based on interviews, literary and cinematic sources etc.)
Full programme
- - -
Bibliography
- Catherine Wihtol de Wenden, Le nuove migrazioni. Luoghi, uomini e politiche, Bologna, Pàtron, 2016
- Flavia Cristaldi, Migrazioni e territorio. Lo spazio con/diviso, Bologna, Pàtron, 2020 (third edition). Note: it is necessary to work on the third edition of the book, published in 2020, because of the updated data contained in it)
- Stefano Allievi, Immigrazione. Cambiare tutto, Bari-Rome, Laterza, 2018
- Michele Colucci, Storia dell'immigrazione straniera in Italia. Dal 1945 ai giorni nostri, Rome, Carocci, 2018
Teaching methods
Lectures will present the general interpretative critical coordinates of geographical studies, through both quantitative and qualitative data and approaches.
Class discussion will be stimulated by the proposition of questions aimed at sharing personal opinions and knowledge related to specific topics. This will allow to develop critical attitudes and the authonomy of judgement.
Besides lectures, there will be seminar-oriented sessions, with the help and contribution, also in preparing and leading these meetings, of the students.
Guest lectures could present lectures through the course.
In the presentation of both quantitative and qualitative data, the teacher will use Power Point presentations, movie and documentary screenings, visits to specialized web sites, and examples of computer cartography.
Assessment methods and criteria
The final exam will be an oral one. During the exam the professor will test:
- the ability to illustrate in a clear way, with a proper language, the main critical and contextual notions discussed in class and explained in the written texts; a specific importance will be given to logical and communicative abilities
- the knowledge of the geo-historical contexts of the phenomena that were analysed and discussed in class (through questions during the exam)
The pass/fail divide is defined by the presence of both these parameters:
a. demonstration of having carefully read the textbooks
b. development of a critical research itinerary on the discussed topics, with the related ability in creating and proposing personal contributions and critiques
The exam will also involve the writing of a short paper, following the directions provided at the entry ""Other information" on this online syllabus.
Other information
To complete the exam, the student must prepare a short paper (8,000 to 12,000 characters spaces included) related to a literary work, a musical piece, a photograph (or a portfolio of photographs), a movie, a video, a painting related to migratory experiences. The paper will approach a geographical reading of this artistic expression (inspiration linked to specific places, depiction of landscapes, role of the artistic representations of migration in territorial images, typologies of human landscapes, relationship between residents and migrants etc.). The paper must be written following the rules of academic writing: endnotes (or footnotes), reference bibliography (only the titles that are used in the preparation of the text), quotes in brackets when directly taken from other sources, clear indication of every source used in the preparation of the text. Every use of texts by other authors taken from printed or online sources and not adequately quoted will be considered plagiarism, and will involve a lower grade. The paper will have to be sent by email to the teacher (davide.papotti@unipr.it) at leats ten days before the date scheduled for the exam. Please include your name, last name and student ID number in the text, and name the file as follows: Name_Lastname_Relazione_Geografiaculturale_academicyear
