OVERVIEW

Modern social geography brings together multiple orientations and research methods focused on the relationships between territorial and social dynamics.
Social geography questions how society interacts with space, how society perceives space and attributes symbolic values to it, and therefore relates to it by assuming certain behaviours or making certain choices of territorial organization. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide an overview of the main geographical schools and the main themes and problems for the interpretation and analysis of socio-territorial dynamics.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims both to provide 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 understood as a social product.
Students will be able to acquire adequate knowledge and an effective ability to understand the perspectives and tools for the analysis of space as a social product; they will also be able to apply the acquired knowledge and understand issues related to the interrelationships between territorial dynamics and social dynamics.

In particular, at the end of the course students should be able to:

- identify the theoretical foundations and the main historical phases of social geography

- distinguish between the different spaces (absolute, relative and social)

- recognize the main processes of social place transformation

- use the geographic language to describe and read phenomena

- apply the tools provided by social geography for a critical interpretation of territorial processes

PREREQUISITES

Having taken the Human Geography exam in the first year

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures with slide projections and docu-videos with analysis and discussion of case studies. Debates on some of the main topics discussed will be also planned during the course.

For students with DSA certifications, compensatory or dispensatory measures are guaranteed, while taking care of the acquisition of the skills envisaged by the Workshop (L.170/2010). Please contact the Teachers.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The different conceptions of space (absolute space, relative space, space as a social product) that guide research in social geography will be presented, such as their implications; furthermore, the evolution of social geography studies will be studied in depth and specific themes of contemporary social geography will be examined.
The course will address geo-social issues with specific reference to the social construction of nature, the evolution of social structures, urban spaces/conflicts, socio-spatial inequalities. The following topics will be discussed in depth: climate change/climate justice, socio-environmental justice, sustainable development and Agenda 2030, social vulnerability as a structural phenomenon.

To conclude, geo-cartographic tools will be introduced and used to read critically phenomena.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For attending students:

- Slides presented in class and uploaded on Aulaweb portal.

In addition, the critical reading of one of the following texts:

• Ward C. (2018). L'educazione incidentale. Elèuthera, Milan.
• Reclus E. (2022). Natura e società. Scritti di geografia sovversiva. Elèuthera, Milan (limited to section Libertà, uguaglianza, geografia di JP. Clark, pp. 9-158).
• Kern L. (2022). La gentrificazione è inevitabile e altre bugie. Treccani, Rome (chapters 1-7).
• Kern L. (2021). La città femminista. La lotta per lo spazio in un mondo disegnato da uomini. Treccani, Rome.
• De Filpo M., De Vecchis G., Leonardi S. (a cura di, 2017). Geografie disuguali. Carocci, Rome.
• Amato F. (a cura di, 2021). Genere, sesso, migrazione. Derive Approdi, Rome.
• 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, 7, 8).

Furthermore, during the course, the following text will be used:

• De Marchi V. (a cura di, 2021). Atlante dell'infanzia a rischio 2021. Il futuro è già qui. Il mondo dei bambini di domani. Ponte delle Grazie: https://atlante.savethechildren.it/content2021/XII_Atlante_dell_infanzia_a_rischio__Il_futuro_e_gia_qui.pdf

For non-attending students:

• Loda M. (2008). Geografia sociale. Storia, teoria e metodi di ricerca. Roma: Carocci (Chapters 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10).

Critical reading of one of the following texts:

• Ward C. (2018). L'educazione incidentale. Elèuthera, Milan.
• Reclus E. (2022). Natura e società. Scritti di geografia sovversiva. Elèuthera, Milan (limited to section Libertà, uguaglianza, geografia di JP. Clark, pp. 9-158).
• Kern L. (2022). La gentrificazione è inevitabile e altre bugie. Treccani, Rome (chapters 1-7).
• Kern L. (2021). La città femminista. La lotta per lo spazio in un mondo disegnato da uomini. Treccani, Rome.
• De Filpo M., De Vecchis G., Leonardi S. (a cura di, 2017). Geografie disuguali. Carocci, Rome.
• Amato F. (a cura di, 2021). Genere, sesso, migrazione. Derive Approdi, Rome.
• 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, 7, 8).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SARA BONATI (President)

KRISTINA MAMAYUSUPOVA

GIAMPIETRO MAZZA (Substitute)

NICOLETTA VARANI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will start on Thursday 28, September
 

Class schedule

SOCIAL GEOGRAPHY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

For attending students (70-75% of the hours attended):

Attending students will have the opportunity to participate to a written test at the end of the course focused on part of the syllabus (specific information on this will be given at the beginning of the course).

For attending students who will pass the written text, the oral test will be on the discussion of the text of their choise.

For non-attending students and attending students will not participate to the written test: the exam will be only oral and will be on the topics/materials as defined in the syllabus section.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral examinations are conducted on the knowledge of the main phases of the epistemological debate with particular reference to the problems and methods of social geography; also on the basis of comments on images, graphs, tables, diagrams, thematic maps and case studies examined in class or present on the study texts. 
The examination in oral form will be evaluated on the basis: 
a) Knowledge of the topics covered in the course (65%)
b) Quality of oral exposure/ability to present arguments and critical approach to the discipline (25%)
c) Mastery of specific vocabulary (10%)

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

ERASMUS STUDENTS are advised to make contact with the professors at the beginning of lessons