C9287 - SEMIOTICA E TEORIA DELL'ARTE

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide the theoretical and methodological tools for analyzing artistic languages, without overlooking the media used by art itself, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the different meanings they can convey to the viewer. Within the context of the relationship between the past and the contemporary, the power and effectiveness of the image will be at the center of attention. By the end of the course, students will be able to develop a historically informed and critical perspective, capable of interpreting artistic production more attentively in both its synchronic and diachronic dimensions.

Course contents

A recent approach within the humanities tends to show that many of the issues we face today have already made an appearance on the stage of history in the not-too-distant past. From this perspective, artistic representation serves as a veritable testing ground: it is the ‘memory’ of a given phenomenon, and it falls to the analyst to bring its contents to life in a precise manner, thereby conferring specific significance upon the visual representation itself. Building on this approach, the course will address a range of topics, from anthropological issues concerning the representation of the ‘other’ and of difference, to questions regarding the role of the observer/spectator, and on to the various media used in art and the different meanings they convey.

Readings/Bibliography

Algirdas-Jullien Greimas, “Semiotica figurativa e semiotica plastica”, in Fabbri, P., Marrone, G., a cura di, Semiotica in nuce II, Meltemi, Roma 2001, pp. 196-210 (scaricabile in pdf su https://virtuale.unibo.it/course/view.php?id=26743 [http://campus.unibo.it/cgi/lista?) [Questo testo verrà integralmento spiegato in classe]

Victor Stoichita, L’immagine dell’altro. Neri, giudei, musulmani e “gitani” nella pittura occidentale dell’età moderna, La casa Usher, Firenze 2019.

Lucia Corrain, Lo sguardo oltre la cornice. Indagini dull’arte dell’osservare, Bub, Bologna [sarà pubblicato open acces prima dell’inizio del corso].

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures, either in person or online. Furthermore, there will be a strong emphasis on dialogue and direct interaction with the students.

Assessment methods

The final examination will verify the fulfillment of the following learning objectives:

_knowledge of the topics and of the critical methodology discussed in class or studied in the literature;

_ability to use critical tools when examining a given image;

_ability to understand one's own critical opinion in relation to the historiographical debate. This ability is based on the assumption that our critical opinion is inevitably conditioned by our cultural views.

The exam will be exclusively in the form of an oral examination, which is evaluated in 30. It will be based on the images discussed in the books provided in the reading list or in class. Students should identify the works of art, demonstrate an understanding of their chronological, geographical and historical context, discuss their relationship with other works of art. For this reason, students are expected to bring their own books on the day of the exam.

Following the Alma Mater's guidelines, notably:

_the demonstration of an organic vision of the themes addressed in class or in books indicated in the reading list as well as of the critical use, command of oral expression and specific vocabulary, will be assessed with marks of excellence (28-30).

_mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, scarce ability of synthesis and analysis and/or the use of a correct but not always appropriate vocabulary will lead to discrete assessments (23-27).

_training gaps and/or inappropriate vocabulary - even in conjunction with a minimal knowledge of the subject - will lead to marks that will not exceed the minimum grade (18-22).

_training gaps, inappropriate vocabulary, lack of command of the bibliography discussed within the course will lead to negative evaluations.

Teaching tools

Exam materials and further readings can be found on Virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Lucia Corrain