93625 - Information and Political Analisys(LM)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Information, Cultures and Media Organisation (cod. 5698)

Learning outcomes

The laboratory aims to offer methodological tools and case study analysis that allow students to understand and evaluate the technological, cultural, professional and ethical evolutions of the visual and digital dimension of the information sector in contemporary society (journalistic photography, infographic, data visualization, visual social media, etc.). At the end of the course the student: - masters techniques of analysis of digital visual information; - knows virtuous professional models of production and visualization of information data; - knows how to analyze the technological devices of vision used in the information sector; - knows how to apply the acquired knowledge to the elaboration of information projects; - is able to recognize critical issues and advantages in the digital evolution of visual information.

Course contents

The laboratory aims to provide the methodological tools to analyze the way in which different ideological-cultural constellations present themselves within modern and contemporary media production.

masters the methodologies of analysis of public and political language and their historical meaning

knows the editorial lines of the most important global media;

knows how to analyze the historical and political significance of the lexicon of information;

can apply the knowledge acquired to the media;

is able to analyze and understand the ideological and political effect of the information flow.

This year's workshop aims to analyse and deepen the public and political discourse around climate change. In the first part of the workshop, the ecological discourse will be critically reconstructed with particular attention to the following themes:

  1.  What nature means
  2. Ecology and Capitalism
  3. Environmental policies
  4. Environmental disasters and catastrophes
  5. What is Political Ecology?
  6. Ecology as Activism
  7. The environment as a transnational problem
  8. Is Ecology a Science?
  9. The Climate State
  10. Ecological Transitions

In the second part, on the other hand, the way in which the national and international press - both in the news and in the comments - describes and analyses the environmental issue in its social and political implications.

Readings/Bibliography

Reference bibliography for the first part:

R. Keucheyan, La natura è un campo di battaglia. Saggio di ecologia politica, Verona, Ombre corte, 2019.

G. Mann - j. Wainright, Il nuovo Leviatano. Una filosofia politica del cambiamento climatico, Roma, Treccani, 2012.

B. Latour, Politiche della natura. Per una democrazia delle scienze, Milano, Cortina, 2000

I. Stengers, Nel tempo delle catastrofi. Resistere alla barbarie a venire, Torino, Rosenberg & Sellier, 2021.

The most important sources for the second part are: Il Corriere della sera, La Repubblica, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, Politico.com, The Wall Street Journal, Harper's Magazine, The Economist, The Guardian, The Financial Times, Le Monde, Le Figaro, Le Monde Diplomatique, Die Süddeutsche Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Die Zeit, El Pais.

Teaching methods

Unless otherwise indicated, due to the restrictions imposed by the current health emergency, teaching will be carried out in a didactic manner:

Traditional: the teacher will always be present in the classroom designated for teaching, students will alternate in attendance according to a schedule of shifts being defined (more detailed information about the shift and how to access the lesson in attendance will be provided later). It will always be possible to connect remotely and follow live streaming of lessons in the classroom via TEAMS platform, lectures and seminar discussions.

Assessment methods

Given the seminar character of the laboratory, attendance is strongly recommended.

1) Attending students

At the beginning of the workshop, students are required to choose some newspapers and/or magazines that they have to read and analyze during the first part of the course (almost two weeks). In the second part, they have to present the most relevant aspects of the articles they have read in the light of the concepts that have been introduced and explained during the first part of the course. In the end, they are required to write a paper of at least 2500 words, demonstrating the critical understanding of the articles presented and the knowledge of the texts chosen from the first section of the bibliography.


2) Non-attending students

Students who are not attending must agree with the teacher during the office hours (via Teams or in presence) or via email the theme and bibliography of a paper that must be at least 3500 words long.


All papers must be delivered at least one week before the institutional exam date

Office hours

See the website of Maurizio Ricciardi

SDGs

No poverty Good health and well-being Gender equality Reduced inequalities

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.