90413 - Communication and Mediation Processes of Information

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide a historical-sociological approach to the relationship between institutions and information practices in their insertion in social contexts and in the imaginary. At the end of the course, students will be able to understand the communication processes built from the social need for information and the related requests. Students will be able to establish relationships between theories, techniques and professional practices, through the presentation of communication experiences such as mediation and information reception in different socio-historical contexts.

Course contents

Contents

1 . Communication and Social Mediation of Information and Culture: General and Specific Characteristics/Concepts and Definitions

2 . Mediation models in modern institutions and organisations

3 . Mediation models in contemporary institutions and organisations

5 . Culture, technologies, citizens and cultural policies .

6 . Socio-technological changes and consequences in cultural practices:Artificial Intelligence and mediation

7 . Libraries and museums: information, cultural practices and political actions

8 . Reading practices

9 . Digital convergence and effects on reading circulation and appropriation

9 . Mediation practices: from a reading club to the prompt for AI for users

10 . Inclusion and accessibility: the role of mediation

Readings/Bibliography

MANDATORY READINGS for ATTENDING and NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS*.

FAGGIOLANI, Chiara. Libri insieme – Viaggio nelle nuove comunità della conoscenza. Bari, Laterza, 2025

GARRITANO, Daniele. Un’affollata solitudine – per una sociologia della lettura. Roma, Carocci, 2023

KLINENBERG, Eric: “Cultura, Media e Comunicazione”. IN: MANZA, Jeff; ARUM, Richard e HANEY, Lynne: Progetto Sociologia – Guida all’immaginazione sociologica. Milano, Pearson Italia, 2018. Chapter 6 – pp. 158/189

SOLIMINE, Giovanni. Cervelli anfibi, orecchie e digitale - Esercizi di lettura futura. Fano, Aras, 2023.

VELLAR, Agnese. Le industrie culturali e i pubblici partecipativi: dalle comunità di fan ai social media, Roma, Aracne Editrice, 2015.

For NON ATTENDING students (beside de mandatory readings) ONE  of the following text

AGNOLI, Antonella. La casa di tutti – città e biblioteche. Bari, Laterza, 2023

BARON, Naomi S. Come leggere – Carta, schermo o audio? Napoli, Raffaello Cortina, 2021.

ESPOSITO, Elena. Comunicazione artificiale – Come gli algoritmi producono intelligenza sociale. Milano: EGEA, 2022.

LOLLI, Alessandro. La guerra dei meme – fenomenologia di uno scherzo infinito. Effequ, 2017.

PALFREY, John. Bibliotech. Milano: Bibliografica, 2016

ROSE, Franck. Immersi nelle storie: il mestiere di raccontare nell’era di Internet. Torino, Codice, 2017.

SOLIMINE, Giovanni e ZANCHINI, Giorgio. La cultura orizzontale. Bari: Laterza, 2020

SPINELLI, Martin e DANN, Lance. Podcast - narrazioni e comunità sonore. Roma: Minimum Fax, 2019.

Further readings MAY be suggested during the course

Teaching methods

The course emphasises participative teaching. Teaching is carried out through lectures and the use of technological aids. It is also conducted through in-depth seminars with students, discussion of empirical cases, practical exercises, viewing and analysis of film clips, documentaries and videos on the course topics. Students will be required to play a very active role, through discussions, analysis of case studies and work to be developed outside class time to be presented in class.

Assessment methods

 The examination consists of an oral interview to assess the student's knowledge of the topics discussed during the lessons (for those attending) and of the bibliography indicated, and the critical and methodological skills acquired. The following will be assessed: mastery of the contents, the ability to synthesise and analyse themes and concepts, and the ability to express oneself adequately and in language appropriate to the subject matter. The final grade will be based on the overall assessment.
The examinee will begin with the presentation of a topic of his/her choice from among those covered, and the examination will continue with at least two further questions set by the lecturer.
During the examination, the interview is aimed at testing the student's ability to analyse, critique and control the discipline as a whole.
The criteria adopted for the assessment of learning are:

- knowledge of the programme bibliography
- ability to develop arguments independently;
- ability to describe and illustrate phenomena, processes, practices studied by the sociology of cultural and communicative processes;
- ability to empirically situate theoretical generalisations;
- ability to engage in sociological reflection on aspects and processes of transformation in contemporary society.
Two different assessment parameters will be adopted, for frequenting students and for non-frequenting students.
For attending students
- the learning assessment consists of: 1 midterm test (in the middle of the course); presentation of the seminar work (in the second half of the course), written elaboration of the work presented (at the end of the course), participation in the discussions and exercises and group work. All this will be included in the assessment and will serve as a means of checking individual learning against the course completed in the classroom. The examination programme is roughly similar to that for non-attenders.

Attendees who have achieved and exceeded a pass mark in class work may register their grade (by registering for the roll call);
or decide to take the oral examination on the entire syllabus.
Specifically, the following will be assessed
- active participation in class, exercises: 10%
- Group work: 40%
- Midterm examination: 50%
Non-attending students must supplement the bibliography for the appeal.
(Supplements indicated in TEXTS/BIBLIOGRAPHY)
FOR NON-FREQUENCING STUDENTS: If there are any doubts about the explanations for the course and the study materials for the appeals, I would ask you to send me an e-mail with times when you are available online so that we can arrange a brief meeting to settle any doubts or needs you may have.

Teaching tools

Lectures. Network resources. USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Coordinated discussions. Guidance and tutoring to out-of-class groups (on a telematics platform).

Students who, for reasons dependent on disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA), require compensatory tools, may notify the teacher of their needs so that they can be referred to the contact persons and agree on the adoption of the most appropriate measures. Please also consult the web page:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti

Office hours

See the website of Giulia Crippa