78085 - Social Theatre (1) (LM)

Course contents

The care for oneself and others is based on relational forms that in the theatre of social interaction have been systematized since the end of the XX century, developing new theatre research possibilities and making resilient and opposing communities visible. We will investigate specific case studies from this perspective, including examples from the educational, health and social fields. In this way, we will observe the challenges that dance and theatre artists faced, and that taught a way to look beyond the real and both the physical and symbolic boundaries of an exclusionary society through unexplored networks and aesthetic solutions. After this transversal and transdisciplinary excursus, we will specifically focus on the connection between theatre and prison.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending and non attending students are asked to study the following texts:

1. Alessandro Pontremoli, Elementi di teatro educativo, sociale e di comunità, Utet, Torino, 2015 (capitoli segnalati sulla pagina virtuale del corso)

2. Rossella Mazzaglia (a cura di), Sfide di confine (upcoming, available at the beginning of the course).

The attending students will add the notes from class; non attending students will add one of following texts:

Fabrizio Fiaschini (a cura di), Per-formare il sociale. Controcampi. Estetiche e pratiche della performance negli spazi del sociale, Bulzoni, Roma, 2022;

Alessandro Pontremoli, Alessandra Rossi Ghiglione, Rita Maria Fabris (a cura di), Performing Arts, Wellbeing e salute di comunità, Bulzoni, Roma, 2025.

Non attending students are also requested to watch the following video, which is available on youtube:

• In prospettiva. Dialoghi sul teatro # 12// Armando Punzo. Dialogo tra il regista e Cristina Valenti, introdotto da Rossella Mazzaglia all’interno del ciclo In prospettiva. Dialoghi sul teatro a cura di Gerardo Guccini, Claudio Longhi, Rossella Mazzaglia, prodotto da ERT e La Soffitta.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment methods

The assessment is based on an oral exam with open questions.

Students are requested to identify artists and themes and to connect them to their historical, cultural and aesthetic context. They should prove to be able to make connections between the various sources.

Proper language and the ability to critically speak about the texts content will lead to a good/excellent final grade.

Acceptable language and the ability to resume the texts content will lead to a sufficient/fair grade.

Insufficient linguistic proficiency and fragmentary knowledge of the books' content will lead to a failure in passing the exam.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

During the classes, audio-visual sources and primary written, oral and media sources will be used. The e-learning page will also serve as a platform to share material and communications.

Office hours

See the website of Rossella Nancy Maria Mazzaglia