27280 - Seminars (1) (G.B)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the seminar course (an activity strictly related to the objectives of the degree course) the student will have acquired specific skills and notions to address central and methodological issues and problems in an anthropological environment.

Course contents

Images of the OthHer

History and Stories of the Feminine in Mediterranean Cultures

At the end of the course, the student knows how to critically interpret and historically contextualise literary and other historical sources in a gender perspective, using a plurality of methodological approaches typical of historiographical research and literary criticism. S/he knows the fundamental features of the history of the "material"and" symbolic" condition of women in the different cultural contexts examined by the course.

In particular, the student is able to reconstruct the main lines of elaboration of the notions of sexual difference and gender identity, with special regard to the notion of "feminine" and its social and literary representations, in the different cultures that have developed in the Mediterranean basin from the early modern age to the contemporary age. S/he is oriented in the different elaborations of thought in the field of gender studies and knows how to apply them to the different contexts considered; knows how to listen, understand and communicate with respect to different points of view and identify relationships between different disciplines; can communicate in oral and written form using specific terminology and in accordance with the scientific statute. The course is coordinated by the Teacher(s) with the participation of other scholars (mainly from the Department) as well as representatives of the world of culture and professions. It will be articulated into two fundamental aspects: 1) introduction to the basic tools and categories of gender history, historiographical research, history and literary criticism (with particular reference, in this latter context, to the analysis of rhetorical structures); 2) analysis of single themes considered significant for the reconstruction of the representations of the "feminine" and of the notions of gender in different cultures of the Mediterranean basin, with particular reference to the following macro-areas: modern and contemporary Western world; Arab and Muslim world. In consideration of the variety and complexity of different topics and disciplinary approaches, each of these macro-areas will be chaired by one or more specific reference teacher(s): 1) Vincenzo Lagioia; 2) Giuseppe Cecere 3) Ilaria Cicola.

Readings/Bibliography

It is necessary for the student, in order to attend the course and to understand it, to have studied the general topics in depth by reading the following titles:

• Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks, Christianity and sexuality in the early modern world : regulating desire, reforming practice, London-New York, Routledge, 2000 ;
• Simona Feci - Laura Schettini (a cura di), La violenza sulle donne nella storia: contesti, linguaggi, politiche del diritto (secoli XV-XXI), Roma, Viella, 2017;
• Valentina Colombo, Parola di donna, corpo di donna. Antologia di scrittrici arabe contemporanee, Milano, Mondadori, 2005;
• Margot Badran e Miriam Cooke, Opening the Gates: An Anthology of Arab Feminist Writing. Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 2004;

Teaching methods

The lessons will be of two types:

a) expository-argumentative lectures;

b) seminars with active participation.

For all the meetings, even those of type a, there are however moments dedicated to group work and readings on which to discuss together.

Assessment methods

For the verification of learning, in order to qualify for the seminar activity, the student must submit three papers to the professor (Prof. Lagioia) corresponding to three lectures and demonstrate, by means of certification, participation in the eight lectures planned in the calendar.

 

METHOD OF VERIFYING PRESENCE:


At the end of each seminar, students must either sign a prepared form (if in presence) or send an email to Prof. Lagioia requesting certification of presence, which will also result from the Teams platform report.


It is important to submit the certification request for each meeting. This is valid both for those who follow individual lectures of their choice and for those who intend to follow the entire seminar cycle.

Teaching tools

Slides, photocopies and more material will be provided in class

Office hours

See the website of Vincenzo Lagioia