OVERVIEW

The modern social geography brings together multiple orientations and research methods focused on the relationship between the spatial and the social dynamics.

The social geography wonders how society interacts with space, how society perceives the space and attaches to it symbolic values, and how society relate to it taking certain actions or making certain territorial organization choices.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course provides an overview of key issues and fundamental problems for the interpretation and analysis of socio-spatial dynamics

LEARNING OUTCOMES (FURTHER INFO)

The course aims to provide both the main theoretical references and foundations of social geography and to illustrate some case studies for a reading of social and economic phenomena on the territory. In particular, the course focuses on the relationship between society and space, the latter being understood as a social product.
Students will acquire adequate knowledge and ability to effectively understand prospects and tools to analyze the space intended as a social product; also they will be able to apply their knowledge and understanding of issues related to the interrelations between territorial dynamics and social dynamics.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures with slide projection and analysis and discussion of case studies, charts, schemes and diagrams, tables, thematic maps. Students will be invited to participate with a short deepening of a topic (with slide processing or reading of scientific articles in english).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The lessons will present different conceptions of space (absolute space, relative space, space as a social product) that guide the research and their implications. It will be deepened the evolution of social geography studies in France, in Germany, in Anglo-Saxon countries and in Italy, and will examine the main research themes of the various schools.
The course will address geo-social issues with specific reference to the environment, changes in the social structures, the city and the gentrification phenomena, socio-spatial inequalities. They will be further discussed the topics and issues related to: sustainable development; migration, also studied through the mapping tool; digital divides and gender divides.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For attending students​:

• M. Loda, Geografia sociale, Carocci, Roma, 2008 (Cap. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6).
• N. Varani, A. Primi, Rio +20: Politiche per l'ambiente. Una lettura geografica, Libreria Universitaria, Padova, 2012.
• Slides and supplementary materials provided by the teacher on Aulaweb portal.

For non-attending students:

• M. Loda, Geografia sociale, Carocci, Roma, 2008 (Cap. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
• G. Amoretti, N. Varani (a cura di), Il turismo della terza età, Roma, Carocci, 2013.

Critical reading of a text chosen from the following:

• C. Cerreti, I. Dumont, M. Tabusi (a cura di), Geografia sociale e democrazia. La sfida della comunicazione, Roma, Aracne ed., 2013 (contributi di: Dumont, Tabusi p. 9; Eva p. 43; Loda p. 63; Lugeri et Al. p. 95; Prunesti, Casagrande p. 105; Schmidt p. 121; Amato, Dumont p. 143; Petrioli p. 171; Rocca et Al. p. 223; Albanese p. 241; Calandra p. 287; Di Bella p. 313; Maggioli et Al. p. 329).
• N. Varani, A. Primi, La condizione della donna in Africa Sub-sahariana. Riflessioni geografiche, Libreria Universitaria, Padova, 2011 (Note introduttive, Cap. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANTONELLA PRIMI (President)

NICOLETTA VARANI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First week of March 2016 (Wednesday 1 March)

Class schedule

SOCIAL GEOGRAPHY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral form.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Exams are held in oral form, also on the basis of images, charts, tables, diagrams, thematic maps and case studies examined in lecture or present on the studied texts.The theoretical references of the discipline, the main research themes of the various geographical Schools and the case studies and the topics discussed during the lectures will be deepened.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

All students are encouraged to periodically visit the page of this course on the portal of e-learning AulaWeb (reachable from the University website or at the following url: https://www.aulaweb.unige.it). All information and materials related to this course are exclusively published in this site.