00455 - Geography (E-M)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide a solid knowledge of key-concepts, origin, development of Human Geography and of Cartography as a field of study. Students will be able to analyse social phaenomena in spatial perspective, according to the methodology of political, economic, urban geography and of cartography. Students will be able to analyse critically atlases, literary and historical sources to study territory and to achieve geographical information in the digital environment.

Course contents

The course is structured in two parts. The first part will introduce some foundational approaches and concepts of Human Geography: the map, the scale, the place, the landscape, the city, the region, the territorial nation-state, the globe. Using various geographical theories, it will reflect by way of example on the geographies of consumption, tourism, cultural heritage and the methodologies adopted by geographers in fieldwork.


The second part of the course will address the study of a range of geographical issues that have a major impact on our society and daily lives. In particular, the lectures will offer a critical analysis of the relationship between space and power in relation to contemporary mobility and, more specifically, to migration. Referring to a series of concrete examples this part of the course will focus on the political geography of migration and borders, with a focus on Europe and the Mediterranean.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students should prepare the lecture content and the following texts for the exam:

1) C. Minca, Appunti di Geografia, CEDAM, 2022

2) F. Farinelli. Geografia. Un’introduzione ai modelli del mondo,Torino, Einaudi, 2003.

Non-attending students should prepare the following texts for the exam:

1) C. Minca, Appunti di Geografia, CEDAM, 2022

2) F. Farinelli F., Geografia, Torino, Einaudi, 2003

3) One book selected from the list below:

Brenner, N., 2016 Stato, spazio, urbanizzazione (Guerini Scientifica)

Davis, A.Y. 2022. Aboliamo le prigioni? Contro il carcere, la discriminazione, la violenza del capitale (Minimum Fax)

Lefebvre, H., 2014 Il diritto alla città (Ombre Corte)

Mezzadra, S. & Neilson, B. 2020. Confini e frontiere. La moltiplicazione del lavoro nel mondo globale (Il Mulino) Capitoli 1,2,3, 5 e 7
Moore, J. 2023. Ecologia-mondo e crisi del capitalismo (Ombre Corte)

 

Teaching methods

The course is structured with face-to-face lectures. In the introductory lecture, the lecturer will give detailed instructions on the lecture program, testing methods, bibliography and teaching materials.


Therefore, students who intend to take the exam as attending students must ensure regular class attendance of more than 75 percent.

Assessment methods

 

The examination is conducted in a written form. The test consists of open questions, differentiated between attending and non-attending students.


For attending students, the questions will cover the topics covered in the classroom and the bibliography indicated and discussed during the course.


For non-attending students, questions will cover the topics covered by the two required books and one of the five choice texts indicated in the bibliography


They will be assessed on:


1) the degree of knowledge, depth and critical understanding of the content;


2) the ability to argue and establish relationships between the main topics;


3) the ability to express oneself using appropriate terminology.


Marking Criteria:
To obtain an overall grade between 27 and 30 cum laude students must demonstrate: an organic view of the topics covered in class and/or studied in the textbooks and critical texts in the bibliography (especially for non-attending students); an excellent ability to critically analyze the topics covered and an excellent ability of expression and argumentation; excellent proficiency in the technical language of geography.

An overall grade of between 23 and 26 will be awarded to those who demonstrate: a good knowledge of the syllabus; good ability to critically analyze the topics covered and good ability in expression and argumentation; good ownership of language with some uncertainty in exposition and/or inaccuracy in the use of technical language.


Acceptable but sketchy knowledge of the syllabus, superficial understanding of the texts, limited capacity for critical analysis, and expression that is not always appropriate will lead to barely sufficient evaluations (between 18 and 22).


Poor understanding of texts, inadequate capacity for critical analysis; incorrect or inappropriate written and oral expression will result in a failing grade. In case of an insufficient grade, students will have to repeat the test.


The outcomes will be communicated via almaexams.

 

Teaching tools

power-point, websites, videos, lectures and documents

Office hours

See the website of Martina Tazzioli