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.
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.
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
Having taken the Human Geography exam in the first year
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.
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.
For attending students:
- Slides presented in class and uploaded on Aulaweb portal.
In addition, the critical reading of one of the following texts:
Furthermore, during the course, the following text will be used:
For non-attending students:
Critical reading of one of the following texts:
Ricevimento: The office hours for students are organized as follow: During the first semester, it will take place on Mondays from 11:00am to 2:00pm During the second semester, it will take place on Tuesdays from 1:00 to 4:00pm To access to the service, it is required to book an appointment writing to sara.bonati@unige.it
SARA BONATI (President)
KRISTINA MAMAYUSUPOVA
GIAMPIETRO MAZZA (Substitute)
NICOLETTA VARANI (Substitute)
Lessons will start on Thursday 28, September
SOCIAL GEOGRAPHY
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.
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%)
ERASMUS STUDENTS are advised to make contact with the professors at the beginning of lessons
