29883 - History of Mentality and Cultural Changes in the Contemporary Age (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students will gain in-depth knowledge of the sources and methodologies of social history, specifically focusing on the political and cultural transformations of contemporary society, and will develop independent research skills.

Course contents

The course aims to address issues specific to the contemporary age through the analysis of some of the cultural and mental processes of men and women in history. The focus will be on the two world wars, on the experience of war and violence of military and civilians, and on memory. The Italian case will be central, but other contexts, particularly the European one, will also be considered. Upon completion of the course, the student will possess skills of orientation and critical analysis of historical contexts, events and processes from a social history perspective with attention to the history of mentalities and their transformations.

Readings/Bibliography

A Compulsory book

C. Pancino, Storia sociale. Metodi, esempi, strumenti, Marsilio, 2003

B Books of free choice

1. First World War

Q. Antonelli, Cento anni di Grande Guerra. Cerimonie, monumenti, memorie e contromemorie, Donzelli, 2018 (parts IV-V-VI and Epilogue)

Q. Antonelli, Storia intima della Grande guerra. Lettere, diari e memorie dei soldati al fronte, Donzelli, 2019

A. Gibelli, L'officina della guerra. La Grande guerra e le trasformazioni del mondo mentale, Bollati Boringhieri, 1991

E. Leed, Terra di nessuno. Esperienza bellica e identità personale nella prima guerra mondiale, il Mulino, 1985

G. Mosse, Le guerre mondiali. Dalla tragedia al mito dei caduti, Laterza, 1990

2.Second World War

A. Bravo, D. Jalla, La vita offesa. Storia e memoria dei Lager nazisti nei racconti di duecento sopravvissuti, Franco Angeli, 1986 (7ª ed. 2001) (parte seconda/oppure parte prima + parte terza)

A.M. Bruzzone, R. Farina, La Resistenza taciuta. Dodici vite di partigiane piemontesi, Bollati Boringhieri (2003; I ed. 1976)

C. Colombini, Storia passionale della guerra partigiana, Laterza, 2023

F. Focardi, Nel cantiere della memoria. Fascismo, Resistenza, Shoah, Foibe, Viella, 2020 (capitoli 1-5 + introduzione e postfazione oppure capitoli 6-10 + introduzione e postfazione)

F. Focardi, B. Groppo (a cura di), L'Europa e le sue memorie. Politiche e culture del ricordo dopo il 1989, Viella, 2013 (introduzione e 6 saggi a scelta)

C. Pavone, Una guerra civile. Saggio storico sulla moralità nella Resistenza, Bollati Boringhieri, 1991 (capitoli 1 e 7)

V. Pisanty, Abusi di memoria. Negare, banalizzare, sacralizzare la Shoah, Bruno Mondadori, 2012

Please note: To select and study the books under letter B, knowledge of European and Italian history in the period between the end of the 19th century and the end of World War II is recommended; it can be acquired through a contemporary history textbook for high school or university or a general volume on the contemporary age (i.e. A.M. Banti, L'età contemporanea, 2 voll., Laterza, 2009; A. Vittoria, Il Novecento, Carocci, 2019; R. Vinen, L'Europa del Novecento. Una storia sociale, Carocci, 2004, chapters about the last decades of the 19th century and 1945).

Teaching methods

Lectures; reading and analysis of texts

Assessment methods

Oral exam.

Students will study the compulsory text indicated under letter A and one text of their choice from those indicated under letter B (group 1 or group 2).

In order to pass the exam, the student will have to demonstrate to:

• know the main themes and methodology of social and cultural history in the contemporary age
• recognize the essential characteristics of cultural transformations and of the relation between history and memory with particular attention to the Fisrt and Second World War and the transitions after the wars
• sapersi confrontare con la storiografia e saper comparare fonti e testimonianze individuandone caratteristiche e specifiche rilevanze
• be able to manage historiography and to compare historical witnessing and documents, identifying characteristics and specific relevance.

The final grade will reflect the student’s:

• Mastery of subject content
• Ability to deal with the required topics in a cross-cutting and critical way
• Correctness, clarity, synthesis and fluency of expression
• Appropriate use of the specific language of the discipline, themes and authors
• Capacity of autonomous and personal re-elaboration of contents

Assessment criteria:

30-30 cum laude: excellent, complete and solid knowledge, excellent expression ability, complete understanding of concepts and contents.

27-29: good, adequate knowledge, correct and well-articulated expression, good understanding of concepts and topics.

23-26: fair, technically correct preparation, expression not particularly articulate and appropriate, fair understanding of concepts and topics.

18-22: sufficient; preparation has gaps in terms of content, lack of clarity in presentation, limited ability to understand concepts and topics.

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en] and your professor immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams.

Any requests for accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to the lecturer and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

Teaching tools

Powerpoints presentations; selected readings

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Mira