85118 - Italian Pop Cultures (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have a general knowledge of the processes of production and consumption of popular culture in Italy. They will have studied major theoretical issues and empirical cases from different sectors (e.g. music, movies, newspapers, books). They will be able to analyze the cultural meanings and social effects of popular culture in Italy, focusing also on the role of cultural institutions, the media system, and the political field. They will be able to interpret the relevance of popular culture for the social construction of national identities in Italy. In particular, they will be able to recognize and analyze a variety of Italian cultural objects from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Course contents

The course is structured around two main sections.

In the first section, we will introduce and critically examine key concepts drawn from the fields of cultural studies, media studies, and sociology. The aim is to unpack the historically rooted yet contested and evolving meanings of the notions of “pop(ular)” and “culture(s)”.

In the second section, we will explore a range of key examples of Italian popular culture, situating them within their broader social contexts. Particular attention will be given to the ways in which issues of gender, ethnicity, and class shape collective representations and everyday practices. Additional emphasis will be placed on the interplay between regional, national, and transnational dimensions of cultural production, consumption, and circulation.

Readings/Bibliography

Grazian, D. (2023). Mix it up: Popular culture, mass media, and society (3rd ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.

Teaching methods

The course follows a flipped classroom approach: students are expected to complete readings and exercises independently prior to class, allowing in-class time to be dedicated to the critical discussion of key themes and emerging issues. Additionally, the second section will feature guest authors presenting their research in a seminar format, followed by a moderated class debate.

Assessment methods

Students are required to write a final essay. The length should be around 25.000 characters. Both the content and the structure must be discussed in advance and approved. The essay must be submitted through the specific box on Virtuale no later than three days before the exam date. In order for the grade to be officially registered, students must sign up for the exam through AlmaEsami.

In accordance with the University of Bologna’s official policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning, students are reminded that the evaluation material must be the result of original and autonomous work. For further details, please consult the University’s guidelines on AI usage.

Teaching tools

Online resources and documents not included in the textbooks but relevant to the topics covered in class.

Office hours

See the website of Federico Pilati