OVERVIEW

The course is dedicated to the study of cultural geography on a semiotic basis as the foundation of the critical analysis of the different forms of geographic communication. In fact, it assumes that places and spaces, as objects of communication, can be considered in terms of the value they assume in relation to the culture of human communities.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at providing an approach to the representation of geographical facts according to the epistemic perspective of geo-semiotic. Following this approach, students will be shown how geographical space, its representation and that of phenomena that spread over it from the point of view of their communication is relevant only as geographical space is intended as referent of a meaningful semiotic apparatus. Consequently, at the end of the course students will able to relate, with reference to a certain territorial and landscape context, geo-semiotic referent, representing sign and interpreting sign, eventually understanding and producing geo-semiotic codes aimed at the cartographic and discursive representation of geographical space.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student will be able to:
- identify the elements and factors underlying the connotation of places and the attribution of meaning to them;
- analyze and investigate the semiotic processes (territorial semiosis) underlying the processes of territorialization and construction of the landscape;
Furthermore, he will have the knowledge and skills useful for a correct communication of geographical facts.

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures for a total of 36 hours (equal to 6 CFU). They will be destined to the exposition and discussion of the foundations of semiotic geography and its applications in the field of cultural geography.
The materials used during the lessons not included in the textbooks will be uploaded on Aulaweb as well as other materials useful for the study or parts of texts no longer in the catalog but still useful for the purposes of the course.
Occasionally, Italian and foreign scholars may be invited to hold seminars or conferences in order to deepen specific issues pertaining to the topics covered.
If the epidemiological situation requires it, the teaching will be carried out remotely, according to the indications that will be promptly provided on Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The program is divided into two parts:
FIRST PART: - The concepts of Geosemiotics. Parallel geographies: the two grammars of geography. Culture, geography and modernity. Cultural geography and postmodernity. Semiosis and territorialization: geosemiotic referent, representamen sign, interpreting sign. Geosemiotic codes.
SECOND PART - Culture and nature, Culture and society. Culture and transcendence. Space and time. Culture and landscape. Culture, ethnicity, civilization.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. Vallega (2003), Geografia cultuale. Luoghi, spazi, simboli. UTET, Torino.

A. Vallega (2009), Fondamenti di Geosemiotica. Società Geografica Italiana. Roma.

M. Spotorno (2012), La carta è più interessante del territorio? Antinomie geografiche. Genova University Press. Genova

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

MAURO SPOTORNO (President)

ELEONORA PANIZZA

STEFANIA MANGANO (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Il corso si svolgerà nel primo semestre e le lezioni avranno inizio nella settimana compresa tra l'11 ed il 17 di ottobre.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be in oral form

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will allow you to evaluate:
- mastery of knowledge;
- the ability to use them in the analysis of problems inherent to the processes of geographic semiosis
Evaluation criteria are:
- the quality of the exhibition;
- the correct use of the disciplinary lexicon;
- the ability of critical analysis:
- the precise knowledge of the notions that constitute an integral part of the topics covered.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

If necessary, aulaweb will indicate the Teams channel through which the courses will be delivered and on which the exams will be held.