95891 - Rituals and Legal Perfomativity in the Digital Age (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: knows the meaning of the term rite in the context of theatricality within the referring to the world of legal and judicial normativity; learns to observe how such rituality is used in representative contexts that they use are explicit in different languages]; finally, it learns to analyze the performative potential of rites that are induced by digital transformation in both society and justice; The student acquires specialized methodological skills as he learns to analyze in a comparative and transversal key to life contexts; he experiences participating observation by acquiring soft skill also learns the soft skill that consists in carrying out a participating observation; finally, it strengthens the skills of putting into perspective and critical thinking on the performative use of languages.

Course contents

The 2025-2026 academic year will focus on legality as a ritual of social inclusion in cities experiencing a surge of digitalization. This year's focus will be on extended legality, that is, the social and cultural dimension of legality.


Digitalization is addressed by defining it as a transformation in the ways in which social bonds and connections are built, impacting the collective dimensions of action and the generative grammars of a sense of belonging in collective action.


The topic will be framed through the disciplines of legal sociology, anthropology, and political science.


The course is intended as the theoretical and analytical component of a program that finds its practical and interactive culmination in the Laboratory, although the two courses are independent.


Case studies and experiences will be explored, including with the support of expert and institutional contributions from the world of justice, law, and the legal professions.

Readings/Bibliography

A. Garapon, Del Giudicare, Raffaello Cortina, 2007.

D. Piana, La città ideale. Divergenze, 2023

D. Piana, Noi domani. Divergenze, 2025.

P. Ricoeur, Le Juste, 1 Le Juste 1 , Editions Seuil, ed. 2022.

Searle, John R., 'The General Theory of Institutions and Institutional Facts: Language and Social Reality', Making the Social World: The Structure of Human Civilization (2010; online edn, Oxford Academic, 27 May 2015)

Teaching methods

The course provides a teaching modality largely based on the interaction and collective elaboration of works with the aim of exploring the ritual dimensions of legality in public spaces.

Assessment methods

Elaboration of a case / experience of performativity in a group or individual

Teaching tools

Analytical and theoretical classroom sessions will be complemented by:


1- interviews and meetings with experts and institutional stakeholders


2- outdoor field visits and studies


3- access to audio and video materials

Office hours

See the website of Daniela Piana