70076 - Geography and Visual Communication (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course introduces the main subjects and theory of visual geography and critical cartography mainly focusing on the representation of European political space. At the end of the course students acquire analytical knowledge to study the relation between cartographic image, its communication and circulation of geographical knowledge in our times.

Course contents

The course main topic will focuses on the relation between production and use of geographical images and territory building in contemporary day and age. The first part of the course will focus on some of the main tools and research methods in visual geography. In the second part the topic will be the wider use and spreading of cartography and geographic visualization in the media. Study cases will present a EU map representation on Italian newspapers, and migratory flows “towards Europe” in some selected geographic visualizations.

Readings/Bibliography

1) Bignante E., Geografia e ricerca visuale: strumenti e metodi, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2011.

one among the following two:

2) Boria E., Cartografia e potere. Segni e rappresentazioni negli atlanti del Novecento, Novara, UTET Università, 2007.

3) Casti E., Cartografia critica. Dal Topos alla Chora, Milano, Guerini, 2013.

Teaching methods

Course will be taught through a mixture of formal lectures and discussion classes. Its aim will be to facilitate interaction between the lecturer and students and to stimulate debate among students.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written examination on the texts indicated in the bibliography (one question for each text). Students attending the lessons can alternatively prepare a paper focusing on the main course topics (see instructions in the attached file) and prepare an oral examination on one text.

Given the importance of class attendance for an appropriate training process, the paper is strongly recommended for attending students. This will support active class participation and better understanding of topics.

The final evaluation will be based on analytical and critical knowledge of syllabus and communicative ability. In these respect students will be evaluated on the ability to think critically about the topics developed during the lessons and the use the use of a correct terminology.

Teaching tools

Geographical representations, slides.

Office hours

See the website of Emanuele Frixa