99004 - History and Forms of Christian Mysticims (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students have an advanced understanding of the relevance of a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of Christian mystical traditions. They are able to analyze religious phenomena through interdisciplinary approaches. The learn how to apply methods of research to address the study of Christian mystical traditions.They are capable to apply the methods of research to issues related to Christian mystical traditions and are aware of the context of cultural, linguistic and religious pluralism.

Course contents

Italian mysticism between the 13th and 17th centuries
After giving a broad outline of the Christian mystical traditions both in their historical-literary development and addressing the problem of a definition of mysticism as such, the course will look in particular at texts and themes from the Italian context in the medieval and early modern period. The influence of mysticism on poets such as Dante Alighieri and Iacopone da Todi, and on writers such as, among others, Angela da Foligno, Caterina da Siena and Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi will be assessed. Particular attention will be devoted to Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and to religious spirituality between the 16th and 17th centuries, during which mysticism came to be defined as a literary genre.

Readings/Bibliography

Primary Sources

La mistica cristiana. Progetto editoriale di Francesco Zambon. Volume primo: mistica tardogreca e bizantina, sirica, armena, latina e italiana medievale, a cura di M. Rizzi, S. Chialà, B. Levon Zekiyan, e F. Zambon, Milano, Mondadori, 2020.

La mistica cristiana. Progetto editoriale di Francesco Zambon. Volume secondo: mistica tedesca e brabantina, francese, italiana moderna, a cura di V. Cirlot, A. Vega, B. Papàsogli, M. Catto, e G. Mongini, Milano, Mondadori, 2021.

Scrittrici mistiche italiane, a cura di G. Pozzi e C. Leonardi, Genova-Milano, Marietti 1820, 2004 (I ed. 1988).

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, Discorso sulla dignità dell'uomo, a cura di F. Bausi, Parma, Fondazione Bembo-Ugo Guanda, 2014.

 

P.S.: As far as critical literature is concerned, from the above-mentioned volumes the following readings are suggested: Francesco Zambon's 'Introduzione generale' (pp. IX-LXXII) to the first volume of Mistica cristiana, to which Zambon's own introduction to the section on medieval Latin and Italian mysticism (pp. 901-1020) has to be added. From Scrittrici mistiche italiane, the introductions by Giovanni Pozzi ('L'alfabeto delle sante', pp. 21-42) and Claudio Leonardi ('La santità delle donne', pp. 43-59) are compulsory readings, to be critically updated with selected papers from Rivelazioni. Scritture di donne e per donne nell'Italia della prima età moderna, edited by Erminia Ardissino and Elisabetta Selmi, Roma, Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, 2023. In relation to other specific case studies, Franco Suitner's study Iacopone da Todi. Poesia, mistica, rivolta nell'Italia del medioevo, Firenze, Le Lettere, 2023 will be referred to in relation to Iacopone da Todi, while Pier Cesare Bori's Pluralità delle vie. Alle origini del Discorso sulla dignità umana di Pico della Mirandola, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2000 will be read on Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, and Michel de Certeau's Fabula mistica. La spiritualità religiosa tra il XVI e il XVII secolo, Bologna, il Mulino, 1987 on 17th century mysticism.

N.B.: Readings can be changed throughout the course. Primary texts to be analysed will be indicated in class, as well as the the list of readings for the final exam.

Teaching methods

Lecture; historical-critical analysis of primary sources. Attendance at lectures is not compulsory, but, undoubtedly, regularly attending will help students in better assimilating the content that will be tested during exams.

Assessment methods

Please note that, only students attending at least 75% of the lectures are considered to be attending. That said, class attendance does not affect the exam except for differences in the readings (see Texts/Bibliography section).
The examination will consist of an oral test, based on reading and commenting on the sources and critical literature, and cannot be divided into two successive parts. Both the ability to read texts (in Italian translation) and specific knowledge of the history of Christian mysticism will be assessed. Students will be asked to prove mastery of specific vocabulary and knowledge of diachronic data (dates and historical events).
Below is an example of possible questions (should be understood as a sample of a much broader spectrum of questions): "Read and comment on the following passage", "who was Maria Magdalena de' Pazzi?", "analyze the following poem by Jacopone da Todi", "what are the main characteristics of Christian mysticism in the Middle Ages?".
No books or notes are allowed during the test.
The questioning will take place following the order of registration in the Almaesami application lists.

 

Grading Scale.

Excellent (grades 30 and 30L): achievement of organic view of the topics proposed during lectures and critical use demonstrating mastery of content and technical vocabulary.

Average assessment (grades 25 to 29): mnemonic knowledge and not entirely accurate use of technical vocabulary.

Sufficient assessment (grades 18 to 24): minimal knowledge of topics covered (dates and names), without serious errors.

Insufficient: lack of the minimum requirements (i.e., sufficient assessment).

 

Teaching tools

Slides and notes from lectures.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Borghesi